Croup is a medical condition that causes inflammation in your toddler's upper airways, including the trachea, commonly called the windpipe, and the larynx, also known as the voice box. Toddlers get croup more frequently than older children because they have small airways that quickly become very narrow. Most kids outgrow croup before they reach 5 years of age.
Signs of Croup
Croup symptoms in toddlers often start out similar to those of a mild cold. Your toddler might suffer from a runny nose, a low-grade fever and a stuffy nose. Your child might begin sounding a little hoarse as her upper airways become swollen and inflamed. As the airways narrow even further, your child might develop a harsh, barking cough that sounds a lot like a seal. You might hear a squeaking sound as your child inhales. The KidsHealth website notes that croup symptoms typically worsen at night and when your toddler cries or becomes upset. Many children with croup become too tired to drink or eat anything.
Causes of Croup
KidsHealth reports that viruses cause most cases of croup. The virus primarily responsible for croup is the parainfluenza virus, although the respiratory syncytial virus and the adenovirus sometimes can also trigger this illness. Your toddler catches these airborne viruses by breathing in infected droplets passed by sick people when they cough, sneeze or talk around your child. Your toddler can also catch a croup virus by touching a contaminated surface and then touching his mouth, nose or eyes.
Home Treatments for Croup Symptoms
MayoClinic.com reports that you can treat most cases of croup at home. Set up a cool-mist humidifier because the moist air will help to soothe your toddler's cough. Over-the-counter medications containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease some of the pain that comes with coughing as well as reduce your toddler's fever. Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep to help fight the virus. Give your toddler plenty of fluids, particularly water, frozen fruit pops or warm soup. Hold your child on your lap because sitting upright often makes breathing a bit easier.
Medical Treatment for Croup Symptoms
Although most croup cases run their course within a week, call your pediatrician immediately if your child starts struggling to breathe, begins drooling, has trouble swallowing or you hear squeaking sounds when he inhales. Seek immediate medical attention if your toddler takes on a gray or a blue tinge around his mouth, fingernails or nose. Pediatricians sometimes give toddlers steroid medications to reduce swelling in the airways. Severe cases sometimes require children to sleep in an oxygen tent in the hospital.
Considerations
According to PubMed Health, croup primarily affects kids ranging from 3 months to 5 years of age. Most croup cases occur from October through March in the United States. Premature children and those born with neuromuscular diseases such as cerebral palsy are far more likely to develop severe cases of croup. Many toddlers who come into contact with a croup virus only exhibit common cold symptoms, explains KidsHealth.
