bronchiolitis

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bronchiolitis (bronk-i-oh-ly-tis) n. inflammation of the small airways in the lungs (see bronchiole) due to infection by viruses, usually the respiratory syncytial virus, and occurring most commonly in infants of less than one year. b. obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) a flulike illness with cough, fever, and shortness of breath; there are patchy infiltrates on X-ray. It may result from a viral infection, be caused by certain drugs, or be associated with connective tissue disease.

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