my 6 week old granddaughter has bronchitis and the doc gave her an inhaler. they are planning a 6 hour flight, but i'm worried this could lead to worse lung infections. she only got the inhaler yesterday...should this trip be postphoned?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to the EmpowHER community and thank you for reaching out to us with your question.

It is very uncommon for an infant to develop bronchitis. They commonly get bronchiolitis. This condition happens when the small air passages in a baby's lungs get filled with mucus and become swollen. Both bronchitis and bronchiolitis are caused by a viral infection. Bronchitis can be cause by a bacterial infection as well.

Is the pediatrician aware of this planned six hour flight?

I strongly suggest this flight be postponed. A child with bronchitis should be in an environment with moistened air. Moistening the air may help her breath easier.

Beside the risk of exposure to respiratory viruses from other people on board, cabin altitude changes pose risks for individuals with an obstructive pulmonary disease, an upper respiratory or sinus infection, or certain cardiovascular conditions. The percentage of oxygen in cabin air remains virtually unchanged from ground through all flight conditions, but as altitude increases, the partial pressure of oxygen decreases.

I hope these two points are enough to cause a reconsideration of plans.

Regards,
Maryann