I had never heard of bronchiolitis until I moved here and saw leaflets in Dr surgeries etc. I think there is possibly much more of it over here. I have heard in the past that it is more a continental problem, though no idea why that would be. Funny enough they were talking about it on This Morning this morning.
No-one I know in the UK has ever heard of physio being used on bronchiolitis babies but there was definite improvement on LO after each session. The physio started each session by squirting copious amounts of saline solution up her nose, so it sounded like she was drowning, before doing the thumping and massage. You could argue well she'd get better anyway if it was a mild dose of RSV but I can't believe doctors would prescribe it if there was no evidence it works. And the hospitals over here are obsessive with the drops. Children under two get their noses cleaned even if they aren't in there for respiratory illness, because in hospital they will be exposed to children with respiratory illness, and they firmly believe that saline drops help prevent infection. They won't make the child immune to the bug, but they say it can help the child not get a bad version of it, or help it not get worse.
I have spent many hours googling both saline drops and chest physio and there ar conflicting reports in English over the use of them. The cynic in me wonders if the NHS don't want to waste money on unecessary treatment - physio is considered a luxury over there, whereas here all women who give birth either by CS or vaginally get at least six sessions of physio, for free.
The French do have a reputation for being over medicalised, prescribing too much medication etc, but physio and saline drops aren't like painkillers, antibiotics and anti cholestorol meds. Comparitively they are woo. But they seem to help.
I have been really happy with the care my two have received over the last couple of months (though they have mainly been cared for in Luxembourg, as that is where our paed is). And I have always been impressed with the standard pf care I have received. I can't compare to the NHS as i haven't been treated in the UK since I was a child, but I do trust the systems over here. Which is a nice feeling.