The Bronchiolitis Follow-up Intervention Trial

The Bronchiolitis Follow-up Intervention Trial

This study evaluates the value of routine follow-up with a child's pediatrician after hospitalization for bronchiolitis. Parents of half of participants will be instructed to follow-up with the child's pediatrician regardless of symptom resolution, while the other half will be instructed to follow-up on an as-needed basis (only if the child worsens, doesn't improve, or other concerns develop).

Bronchiolitis is highly prevalent and burdensome among children less than 2 years of age. For this reason, many therapies have been tried by providers and studied by researchers. Unfortunately, interventions have largely been shown to be ineffective, prompting campaigns to reduce use of ineffective therapies. One commonly prescribed but thus far unstudied intervention often provided to children discharged after hospitalization for bronchiolitis is routine follow up with their pediatrician. Whether the costs and time spent for these visits are worthwhile depends on the extent to which the child and the child's parents benefit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children less than two years of age who are hospitalized with an attending physician diagnosis of bronchiolitis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic lung disease
• Complex or hemodynamically significant heart disease
• Immunodeficiency
• Neuromuscular disease
• Discharged home with medication for withdrawal
• Inpatient team believes the child should follow up with their PCP