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.
Who can get croup?
Most children with croup are from three to five years
old.
Croup is more common in boys and during the cold season.
Symptoms of croup are worse for children who are under 3 years
old.
What are the symptoms of croup?
The most typical sign of croup is a cough that sounds like a
barking seal or dog.
Croup can cause the upper airway to swell, making it hard to
breathe.
A high-pitched noise or 'stridor" may be heard with each
inward breath.
Signs of troubled breathing are flaring nostrils or a blue
color to the face and lips.
Symptoms could also include a hoarse voice, sore throat, or
fever.
Infants with croup may be grumpy, sleepy, and have little
appetite.
A bad case of croup can cause gagging and vomiting.
Is croup contagious?
Yes. Croup is contagious.
Croup 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.
How is croup treated?
If your child is having trouble breathing, there are simple
things you can do to help.
There should be no smoking in the house if your child has
croup.
Stepping out into the cool night air may help your child
breathe.
Putting a vaporizer or humidifier in your child's room may
help him breathe.
Put the humidifier close enough to your child so that his hair
gets damp after a few minutes. If it is a warm-mist humidifier,
make sure it's far enough away from him so that he won't get
burned.
You can also run hot water in the shower and close the
bathroom door. Sit with your child in the steamy room for 10-15
minutes.
Keep your child calm. It will be harder for him to breathe if
he is upset.
You can clear a stuffy nose with salt-water drops (1 teaspoon
of table salt in one cup water). Gently suction out the nose with
an ear bulb every few hours.
Your child should drink plenty of clear liquids.
Quiet play is best. Running around can make the cough
worse.
You may want to sleep in your child's room to keep an eye on
his breathing.
How long does croup last?
Croup usually lasts for 2 to 3 days.
A wet cough with mucous may last for 1 or 2 weeks.
Infants and children may return to school or daycare if they
feel better and don't have a temperature.
You don't need to keep your child home from school because of
a lasting cough.
How can croup be prevented?
Little can be done to prevent the spread of infection in your
house.
Children who come into contact with croup will probably get a
sore throat or cough.
Coughing helps get infected mucous out of your child's
airways. Do not use cough medicines to stop the cough.
When should I call the doctor?
Go to the emergency room if your child is drooling or has
trouble breathing for more than 20 minutes.
Go to the emergency room if your child has blue lips, sucks in
his chest with each breath, or is losing consciousness.
Go to the emergency room or call the doctor if you believe
something is caught in your child's throat.
Go to the emergency room or call the doctor if your child is
breathing very fast.
Call the doctor if your child has an earache, fitful sleeping,
or becomes increasingly grumpy.
Call the doctor if your child has a fever over 104 degrees F (or
40 degrees C) or a fever that lasts more than 5 days.
Quick Answers
Croup is an illness of the respiratory system.
Croup can be caused by either a viral or bacterial
infection.
Croup can cause a barking cough and troubled breathing.
Croup is contagious. It can be spread through sneezing,
coughing, and direct contact.
Inhaling moist air can help your child breathe easier. Use a
humidifier, steam the bathroom, or take your child in the night
air to help him breathe.
Croup usually lasts for 2 to 3 days.
Children who come into contact with croup will probably get a
sore throat or cough.
Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your
child's illness.
References
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, "Croup," 1996-2001.
URL:
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