bronchiolitis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “bronchiolitis” mean?
A medical condition involving inflammation of the bronchioles (the smallest air passages in the lungs).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition involving inflammation of the bronchioles (the smallest air passages in the lungs).
Primarily refers to a viral lower respiratory tract infection common in infants and young children, often characterised by wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling is identical. Pronunciations are similar with minor stress variations.
Connotations
Identical clinical connotations.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in medical contexts in both regions. Virtually unknown in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “bronchiolitis” in a Sentence
suffer from bronchiolitisbe diagnosed with bronchiolitistreat bronchiolitisdevelop bronchiolitisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bronchiolitis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The infant's condition bronchiolitised rapidly.
- We are treating a baby who has bronchiolitised.
American English
- The infant's condition bronchiolitized rapidly.
- We are treating a baby who has bronchiolitized.
adverb
British English
- The lungs were bronchiolitically inflamed.
- The disease progressed bronchiolitically.
American English
- The lungs were bronchiolitically inflamed.
- The disease progressed bronchiolitically.
adjective
British English
- The bronchiolitic infant required oxygen.
- He showed classic bronchiolitic symptoms.
American English
- The bronchiolitic infant required oxygen.
- He showed classic bronchiolitic symptoms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and nursing journals, textbooks, and research papers.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of conversations with healthcare professionals or parents of affected children.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Found in clinical notes, diagnoses, medical guidelines, and paediatric discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bronchiolitis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bronchiolitis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bronchiolitis”
- Mispronouncing as 'bronch-itis'.
- Misspelling as 'bronchilitis' or 'bronchioitis'.
- Confusing it with the more general 'bronchitis'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bronchitis involves inflammation of the larger airways (bronchi), often in adults. Bronchiolitis involves the smallest airways (bronchioles) and is most common in infants.
Infants and children under two years old, especially those under six months, premature babies, and those with underlying heart or lung conditions.
Treatment is primarily supportive: ensuring adequate hydration, providing oxygen if needed, and sometimes using nasal suction. Antibiotics are not effective as it is usually viral.
It is extremely rare in healthy adults. A related condition, 'bronchiolitis obliterans', can occur in adults but has different causes (e.g., chemical exposure, post-transplant) and is a distinct disease.
A medical condition involving inflammation of the bronchioles (the smallest air passages in the lungs).
Bronchiolitis is usually technical/medical in register.
Bronchiolitis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɒŋ.ki.əʊˈlaɪ.tɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɑːŋ.ki.oʊˈlaɪ.t̬əs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms exist for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BRONCHIOLE (tiny lung tube) + ITIS (inflammation). So, inflammation of the tiny lung tubes.
Conceptual Metaphor
None commonly associated; it is a literal clinical term.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?