OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on general aspects of bronchiolitis obliterans, with emphasis on childhood postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans.METHODS: The most important publications on bronchiolitis obliterans were selected, using basically the Medline database (January of 1966 to September of 1999).RESULTS: This review is organized as follows: introduction, general aspects of bronchiolitis obliterans (terminology, histopathology and classification), and postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (etiological agents, clinical and radiological aspects, diagnosis and investigation, and treatment).COMMENTS: Bronchiolitis obliterans is a clinical syndrome wich is more common than previously believed in the pediatric population, thus deserving pediatricianś attention.