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Croup is an upper respiratory infection that causes swelling in the area right below the vocal cords or the larynx. Croup is most common in children between 3 months and 4 years old. Adults do not get it because the shape of the throat and larynx has matured by that point.
Usually croup starts out with a mild upper respiratory viral infection such as a cold, ear infection or sore throat. The most prevalent time of year to get croup is the fall and winter; or the cold and flu season.
The symptoms of croup are a barking cough, difficulty breathing and a sharp low-pitched wheezing noise each time a breath is taken. There is an increase in mucus secretions which are thick and can block the airway causing great difficulty in breathing. Breathing is further impaired by the swelling of the vocal cords. These symptoms can be mild or severe. Breathing sometimes is very rapid or slow and labored. You will see the ribs pull sharply in as the child takes a breath. This is hard work and will exhaust your child. Your child will probably have a fever and have nasal congestion. Croup generally lasts about three days but can escalate quickly.
Croup is rarely life threatening anymore, but at one time in history it was. Still, it is a scary and disconcerting childhood illness. Your child should be seen by a doctor. You might need to begin treatments at home because the most severe symptoms of croup usually hit in the middle of the night... unexpected. Sitting your child upright might make getting a breath easier. Keep a child with croup calm so that their breathing will remain as calm as possible. If you get upset and panic this will make your child panicky also. Have your child drink a lot of juice to loosen and thin the mucus in the throat.
Warm teas and soups will relax the throat muscles and stop coughing: let your child sip them through a straw.
A cool mist humidifier can be used to help clear the mucus and congestion up. In days past, a child was put into a hot steaming bathroom to clear the congestion. Hot moist air can still work, but it is second best to cold moist air. If the air is cool and wet outside, bundle your child up and take them outside to breath in the cold moist air.
A doctor may prescribe a nebulizer of racemic epinephrine or albuterol to help with breathing. Antibiotics are usually not given for croup because it is a virus. But, if there is an infection accompanying it, such as an ear infection, bronchitis or a sinus infection an antibiotic will be given.
Croup is a highly contagious childhood virus so keep your child away from other children with any type of chronic cough. If your child has had croup before, keep a cool mist humidifier in their room whenever they get a cold to possibly prevent it from developing into chronic croup.
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