ABSTRACT
Bob Cratchit, a local clerk, brings in his son Tim, an 11-month-old boy, to the GP one cold December morning. He has had a cough and a runny nose for about 2 days now, but over the past 12 hours his breathing has deteriorated. He was born prematurely at 36 weeks and you notice he was quite Tiny on his growth charts. He has only been managing just under half his normal fluid intake and has had about half of his normal wet nappies. There are several other children at home who have recently been unwell with a viral illness. You know the family well and remember they are one of the Government’s ‘just about managing’ families and Mr Cratchit is unkempt. On examination, Tim is afebrile, his heart rate is 160, RR is 40 and he has moderate intercostal recession. There are widespread crackles on auscultation. You suspect that Tim has bronchiolitis.
