In England last year, nearly 40,000 babies and young children with bronchiolitis were admitted to hospital. This infection is usually caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, and in most cases symptoms are mild and last only a few days. However, a quality standard published in the summer by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that admissions for bronchiolitis are rising. NICE quality standards describe high-priority areas for improvement in a defined field of care.