Croup
What
is it?
The term "croup" does not refer to a
single illness, but rather a group of conditions
involving inflammation of the upper airway, that
lead to the characteristic "croupy"
sound, particularly when the child is crying. Most
croup is caused by viruses and occasionally by
bacteria. The viruses most commonly involved are
parainfluenza virus (accounting for about 75% of
cases), adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus,
influenza, and measles. Croup is contagious
and can be spread through sneezing and coughing.
Germs can be picked up from tabletops and fingers.
Children with croup are most contagious during the
first days of illness.
Who
gets it?
Most children with viral croup are between the
ages of three months and five years. Symptoms are
most severe in children under three years of age.
The incidence of croup is more common among males
and during the cold season of the year. Most croup
due to viruses is mild and
"self-limiting," though rarely viral
croup can be severe and even life-threatening.
What
causes it?
- Croup can be caused by either a viral or
bacterial infection.
- The same virus that can cause croup also
causes the flu and common cold.
What
are the symptoms?
Croup is characterized by a loud cough that
resembles the barking of a seal, difficulty
breathing, and a grunting noise or wheezing on
breathing. At first a child may have an upper
respiratory infection for several days before the
onset of cough. As the upper airway (vocal cords
and the areas just below them) become
progressively inflamed and swollen, the child may
become hoarse, with a harsh, barking cough. If
the upper airway becomes more obstructed, the
labor of breathing becomes intense. With severe
croup there may be a high-pitched noise ("stridor")
when breathing in.
Children with viral croup may have a fever.
Symptoms often worsen at night and with crying. In
addition to the effects on the upper airway, the
infections that cause croup can result in
inflammation further down the airway, including
the bronchi (breathing tubes) and the lungs.
Possible airway obstruction is a major concern.
How
is it diagnosed?
Your general pediatrician will determine the
best course of action for your child.
What
is the treatment?
Most mild croup doesn't require professional
intervention. Medical professionals will need to
evaluate a child if there is any suspicion of
airway blockage or bacterial infection.
Home Treatment
Most (though not all) cases of viral croup are
mild. Inhalation of warm, moist air seems to
relieve some of the symptoms. One way to humidify
the air is to use a cool-mist humidifier filled
with warm water. Don't use a hot vaporizer; this
can be hazardous. Having the child breathe in the
humid mist through an open mouth may work.
Another thing to try is to mist up the bathroom
with hot shower steam, and have the child sit in
the bathroom for 10 minutes. You can cuddle your
child and read a bedtime story to help calm her or
him.
Though no one knows exactly why it works,
sometimes taking the child into the outside air
for a few minutes seems to break the episode of
spasmodic croup.
After you break the croupy attack, you should
consider sleeping in the same room as your child
to be able to provide close observation. There
should not be any smoking in the household, since
this can make croup worse.
Self-care
tips
At this time, there are no specific ways to
prevent viral croup. Coughing helps get
infected mucous out of your child's airways,
although do not use cough medicines to stop the
cough.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
|
