Croup attacks children, often in the middle of the night or during a period of sleep. It has a sound of gasping and wheezing that is unmistakable and can even be diagnosed over the phone in many cases. Croup is a very common childhood disease.
The most basic and identifying symptom of croup is the loud, braking seal type of cough that makes it sound like the child is unable to breathe. Labored, noisy breathing is usually the cough’s main accompaniment. A harsh voice might be detected and most children run a fever, even if it’s low.
Croup has a few causes. In most cases, it is caused by the parainfluenza virus. Other viruses can cause croup as well. Just not as regularly. The virus which causes measles, syncytial virus, and other respiratory viruses regularly turn into croup in children under the age of 5.
Any child under the age of 5 is at risk. Children who were born prematurely or who have other health problems are also prone to developing croup. Some children develop it several times a year until their 6th birthday. In a child under the age of 4, the symptoms are the most severe and the scariest for both parent and child.
Diagnosing croup is not difficult due to its tell tale cough. In most cases, a simple physical examination is all that is necessary for a diagnosis. In rare cases, or cases that are not quite clear, an x-ray may be used as a secondary diagnostic tool.
In most instances of croup, there may be few if any complications. Most children bounce back from a case of the disease without anything more than a few restless nights. However, in rare cases croup can lead to a swollen airway, which can require medical attention.
Most cases of croup can be contained and cared for in the home without extraneous measures from the medical community. Fluids for drinking and a moist air environment, such as sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running, can ease the airway enough to provide for comfort. Many children bounce back after just 24 hours of illness, although their voice may remain course and rough.
Antibiotics are useless against croup and should not be given under such circumstances. In cases where the child does not respond to home therapies, prescription medications such as epinephrine or corticosteroids can help the airway open and alleviate discomfort.
While extreme cases of croup are very rare, they do occur. In such cases a humidified oxygen tent or even an airway tube may become necessary. Less than 2% of croup cases require this type of medical intervention.
To help prevent recurring cases of croup, precautions can be taken the same way people are cautious about the cold virus. Frequent hand washing and proper sneezing and coughing techniques (sneezing and coughing into the elbow and not the hand) can help dwindle the possible contamination. Keeping ill children away from healthy children is one of the best practices in maintaining croup free environments.
Children who are vaccinated on time are also protected against the most dangerous forms of croup. Hib and Measles vaccinations offer protection against these very serious strains of croup.
Parents should be instructed on self care management to have the least amount of impact on the sick child. Parents need to stay calm. A frightened parent will only frighten the child which leads to rapid, difficult breathing and more coughing fits. Keep the air in the child’s bedroom as moist as possible with a humidifier, and allow the child some time in cool fresh air when possible. Wrapping the child in a blanket but walking outdoors when it is cool can help considerably.
Over the counter pain relievers and ample sleep and fluids are vital to keeping children comfortable enough to get better. A virus can only run its course and there are not sufficient medications available to counter the effects of croup. Nothing will shorten its stay in the body at this time. Children who are having difficulty breathing during sleep should be kept in a sitting position for sleep. Often cradling the child in a large arm chair or propping pillows up under them can help them sleep.
Croup videos
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Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Chloramphenicol is a synthetic antibiotic that was first introduced to the medical world in 1949. Since its inception, it has been found useful as a treatment for bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant microorganisms. It has been widely used in man more...
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Ciprofloxacin has been a very useful answer to the treatment of an array of bacteria. In addition, it also renders less potential side effects compared to others in its class.
Ciprofloxacin is the generic name of the synthetic antibiotic which also come more...
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Clavulanic Acid is a beta-lactamase inhibitor drug, which strengthens the effect of antibiotic against infection. It is a prescription medicine used in combination with Amoxicillin under the trade name Augmentin. Augmentin is commonly prescribed to patien more...
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Co-trimoxazole has shown that two can indeed be better than one especially when it comes to fighting infectious bacteria. The drug is very effective but there are also a number of side effects to watch out for. more...
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Amoxil is a popular and effective antibiotic. It is usually used to fight bacterial infections like ear infections, throat infections, pneumonia, bladder infections, gonorrhea, E. coli, and salmonella infections. Amoxil actually attacks the cellular struc more...
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Klacid has proven to be as potent and safe as erythromycin. It is also more active in treating bacteria of other types that other alternative antibiotics may not be able to handle. The adverse reactions and drug interactions should also be considered to r more...
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Levofloxacin is a third generation fluoroquinoline antibiotic. It is used to treat different gram-negative bacteria as well as gram-positive bacteria. Since Levofloxacin has a broad spectrum of action, it is mostly used as treatment even before the specif more...
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Ofloxacin is an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone class. It is widely used to treat several bacterial infections including those of the urinary tract, skin, and prostate. It is also used to treat Venereal Disease, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Ofloxacin ca more...
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Oxytetracycline is one of the earliest tetracycline antibiotics ever produced. It was developed under the supervision of famed biochemist by the name Robert Woodward, who has both Scottish and American blood. He was the one who worked out Oxytetracycline’ more...
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