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- Asthma
- Bronchiolitis
- Chickenpox
- Colic
- Common Cold
- Constipation
- Cough
- Croup
- Diaper Rash
- Diarrhea
- Ear Infections
- Eye Infections
- Fever in Children
- Fifth Disease
- Fluoride
- Head Injuries
- Head Lice
- Immunizations
- Lead Poisonings
- Lyme Disease
- Nosebleeds
- Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac
- Poisonings
- Scabies
- Sensitive Skin or Eczema
- Sore Throat/Strep Throat
- Thrush
- Vomiting
Caring for Children: Croup
Croup is an illness that occurs when the airway is inflamed and swollen at the level of the voice box, or larynx. Croup often occurs in the winter months in children between six months and seven years of age.
There are two types of croup. Spasmodic croup comes on suddenly in the middle of the night. Children awaken several hours after falling asleep with a distinctive cough that sounds like the bark of a seal. Episodes often occur several nights in a row. It can be caused by a mild viral respiratory infection, allergy, or temperature change.
Viral croup usually starts with a cold and gradually develops into croup, with a barky cough. Children may also have stridor, a condition with noisy and labored breathing. Most children have a low-grade fever of 100-101° F.
Home treatment of croup:
- Remain calm and try to comfort and reassure the child.
- Take the child into the bathroom and let the steam build up by turning on the hot water in the sink and tub. Steam is almost always effective within twenty to thirty minutes.
- If steam does not seem to help, a short walk outdoors in the cold night air (with child dressed warmly) or a short drive with the car windows open may improve breathing.
- When symptoms clear, the child can go back to bed. Use a humidifier for the next few days.
Go to the emergency room immediately if the child is struggling to breathe or blue around the lips. In cases of severe croup, some children may need to be hospitalized to receive breathing treatments, extra oxygen or IV fluids.
Epiglottitis is a serious bacterial infection that may resemble croup in some ways, but always requires hospitalization and antibiotic treatment.
Signs of epiglottitis:
- Breathing and cough do not improve after home treatments.
- Fever is high 104-105° F.
- The child appears quite ill and appears anxious about breathing or swallowing.
- The child may lean forward to breathe, or have other signs of breathing difficulty.
- There may be drooling or unwillingness to swallow.
Call the pediatrician immediately if your child has signs and symptoms of epiglottitis.
