Most all children will develop a croup cough at some point or another. However, this cough sounds awful and it can really scare parents who wonder what it is and how they can treat it. The following information will help you learn a little bit more about croup cough and its treatment.

What is Croup?
A croup cough occurs when an infection causes the voice box and the windpipe to become inflamed and swollen. This infection is most common in children from three months old to six years old, although it occurs in most children before the age of three. This is because the larynx is smaller and any inflammation interferes with the childs breathing. Most kids will only have one croup cough in their life, although there are some children who will develop croup on multiple occasions. The winter months are the worst time for croup, although the infection may occur at any time.

Symptoms of Croup
The symptoms of croup most frequently include difficulty breathing, hoarseness, a barking cough, a high pitched noise that occurs when breathing, a low grade fever, crackling sounds when exhaling, and more. There are four different types of croup and the different types have different symptoms. However, the first several symptoms mentioned accompany most types of croup and are readily identifiable. The barking cough is undeniable and very hard to overlook.

Diagnosis
Your doctor will base his diagnosis on your childs health, medical history, and the symptoms present. The barking cough is almost always a symptom that gives the doctor good reason to believe the child has croup. A throat culture may be taken in order to determine if the infection is viral or bacterial and the doctor might even order X rays.

Treatment
Most croup may be treated at home. A vaporizer in the childs room can provide moist air that is easier to breathe. Also, a walk in the cool night air might be enough to open up the air passageways. Some doctors even recommend sitting in a bathroom with the hot water running for 10 minutes so the steam will making breathing easier. If a fever is present then Tylenol is a good treatment.

In the event breathing continues to be labored and your child seems to be struggling you should seek immediate medical attention.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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