7/25/2023 0 Comments Croup nocturnal cough![]() When Should You Seek Medical Attention for Croup?Ĭall 111 or check in with your child’s doctor if you suspect your child has croup, even if it seems mild. Keep a close eye on your infant and seek medical attention if the symptoms seem to be getting worse. Try distracting your baby by reading a story, singing or blowing bubblesĭon’t give your child over-the-counter cough or cold medicinesĭon’t put your child in a steamy room or get him or her to inhale steam Make sure your child gets plenty of fluids to drinkįocus on keeping your little one comfortable and calm – speak in a soothing voice and give plenty of hugs and kisses will help your little one feel better If necessary, treat the fever with a medicine recommended or prescribed by your doctor If your baby or toddler has mild croup, it can help to ![]() Keep in mind, it can’t be treated with antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections but are not effective against viruses. There is no specific treatment for the virus that causes croup. See your child’s doctor if the symptoms of croup persist beyond a couple of days or if they seem to be getting worse. So, for example, at first your child might just have a runny nose, sore throat, a cough and/or a high temperature.Įventually the characteristic croup symptoms can develop and are often worse in the evening or at night:įever (a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more)Ī distinctive, barking cough (which may sound like the noise a sealion makes)Ī rasping or whistling sound when breathing in (especially when coughing or upset)Ĭroup usually clears up by itself within around 48 hours, although in rare cases it may linger for up to 2 weeks. The early croup symptoms sometimes seem like a common cold. Keep in mind that having croup doesn’t result in immunity, so it is possible for your child to have croup more than once. This might be because more viruses tend to be circulating around this time of the year. Your child can get croup at any time of the year, but like several other common childhood illnesses it’s especially common during the autumn or early winter months. Just like other respiratory viruses, it can spread through coughs and sneezes in the air or by touching surfaces and objects that have been contaminated. ![]() Thankfully, this also means that usually your child will literally ‘grow out’ of being so susceptible to croup by around 5 or 6 years old, when his or her windpipe is more fully developed. ![]() However, younger kids and babies tend to have a narrower windpipe, so any swelling caused by the inflammation can have a more severe effect on breathing – this is what causes the symptoms of croup. Viruses that can cause croup in babies and toddlers may only lead to normal cold symptoms in adults or older children. The most common of these is known as the parainfluenza virus, but some of the other potential triggers include the influenza virus, rhinovirus (a common cause of colds and sniffles) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). There are several viruses that can cause croup. However, it’s still important to seek medical advice urgently if your little one does seem to be experiencing a more severe attack. One of the most obvious symptoms of croup is the way it sounds: Children with croup have a distinctive barking cough, often accompanied by a whistling or rasping noise (known as stridor) when breathing in.Ĭroup is common in babies, toddlers and young children especially between the ages of 6 months and 3 years.Īlthough a bout of croup can be scary – both for your child and for you as a parent – the good news is that in most cases it’s mild and can be treated at home. With croup, in babies and toddlers or young children, inflammation of these passageways can cause them to narrow, making breathing more difficult. Croup is a viral infection of the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe), which form the breathing tube connecting the mouth to the top of the lungs.
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