Croup is a type of cough characterized by a barking sound, similar to a barking seal. The cough commonly occurs in people younger than 5 years of age. The virus lasts five to six days and is more prevalent in the winter and early spring months. The mild form of croup is treatable using home remedies, but if symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical treatment from your health care provider.
What Causes Croup?
Croup is a cough commonly caused by the parainfluenza virus. Other viruses associated with croup include the adenovirus and the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, according to the website Kids Health. Croup occurs when the upper airway is inflamed around the larynx and trachea. The inflammation from the virus and repetitive coughing causes the narrowing in the air passageway, thereby causing the vocal cords to vibrate, which makes the cough to resemble a barking seal.
Signs of Croup
The symptoms of croup vary. The bark cough generally occurs in the evening or when your child lies down. The cough can be accompanied by a fever, raspy voice, or stridor, which is a harsh, raspy, whooping and gasping sound when your child breathes, according to pediatrician William Sears.
Home Treatment
Croup symptoms are generally treatable using at-home remedies for mild cases. Ensuring your child consumes plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration and gets rest to prevent fatigue is important during the recovery period. If your child is running a fever or has chest discomfort or pain from the repetitive coughing, administer over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, according to MayoClinic.com. Consulting with your health care provider for the appropriate dosage is advisable prior to administering any medications.
A humidifier or using the steam technique in the bathroom for 10 minutes might help your child for the repetitive coughing and might help her breathe easier. To use steam, run the hot water in the bathroom with the door closed to let the steam fill up. Sit in the bathroom with the door closed while she breathes in the moistened air. In addition, if the air is cool outside, you can take your child outside for 10 minutes and this might help reduce the swelling in the airway.
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment is advisable if your child is having difficulties breathing or starts to turn blue or a grayish color around the mouth, nose or fingernails. In addition, if your child develops a fever higher than 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit, begins drooling or seems irritable, seek treatment. According to MedlinePlus, pneumonia can occur in some children when a bacterial infection is present in the upper airway. A doctor can administer oxygen or a breathing treatment with steroid medication to help make breathing easier, or a prescription medication to aid with the cough or infection.
Prevention/Solution
Croup transmission is similar to the common cold, requiring direct contact, respiratory droplet transmission and transmission from inanimate objects. If croup is from a viral infection, the first two to three days are the most contagious. Techniques to prevent the virus from spreading include hand-washing and disinfecting contaminated areas or objects.
