Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 93%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
The nurse is reinforcing education to the parents of a toddler diagnosed with bronchiolitis.The nurse informs the parents that which of the following is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants and young children. RSV causes inflammation and swelling of the small airways in the lungs, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. It is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. Haemophilus influenzae type B, Adenovirus, and Rhinovirus can also cause respiratory infections but are not as commonly associated with bronchiolitis as RSV. Haemophilus influenzae type B is more commonly linked to pneumonia and meningitis in children. Adenovirus typically causes respiratory infections like the common cold, while Rhinovirus is a common cause of the common cold but less frequently causes bronchiolitis.