[Diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis (author's transl)]

In this paper we review the current facts in the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis. Etiological diagnosis,, clinical features and major problems of differential diagnosis are also discussed. A classification of the patients according to the seriousness of the clinical picture is proposed. Proper treatment requires the adoption of specific therapeutical measures for each degree of the disease. Recent reports have demonstrated the occurrence of residual pulmonary lesions after bronchiolitis. Therefore, strict controls during the course of the acute disease are required, in order to prevent these complications.