The first time a new parent hears the haunting sound of a barking cough and a distinct rasp in their child’s voice, the panic, even if well managed on the outside, is raging through your mind. You start asking yourself, “What is that?” “What is causing that awful wheezing and hoarse cough?” With so many unanswered questions, it is important to know some of the basics. Croup is one of the most common answers to what your child is experiencing. We at ENT Specialists would like to expound on croup to help parents and caregivers know what is going on with your child.
For starters, Croup is a viral infection of the voice box or larynx and windpipe or trachea. Initially, croup symptoms are associated with signs of a respiratory infection, a runny nose and cough. It is very common among children. Children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years are most likely to be affected by croup but the average age is 2 years. Because their windpipes are small along with the bronchial passages, they are the most vulnerable to blockage.
The first indication of croup, generally speaking, is a cough that sounds very much like that of a bark that sounds like the noises a dog or seal produce. Difficulty breathing soon follows in children as the tissue around the larynx is inflamed, which constricts the windpipe as well as the mucus blockage in the bronchial passages. Hollow, raspy noises, called stridor, with each inhaled breath are produced by the sound of air being forced through the narrowed airways.
Croup is extremely contagious among other children and generally lasts for 5 to 6 days. Most cases that develop are mild are managed and treated in the comfort of your own home. If the infection is severe, a child may need to be hospitalized. Frequently, the parainfluenza virus is the cause of most croup cases. An infected child’s cough will transmit the disease by airborne droplets.
Croup can sometimes be confused with Epiglottitis, which is an unrelated bacterial infection of tissue in the back of the throat. The early stages of Epiglottisis’ symptoms often mimic that of croup’s symptoms, but escalate quickly, becoming very severe. Children will experience high fevers, drooling, and looking obviously ill when they are infected with Epiglottitis. Lying down makes it more difficult to breathe. Helping them be more comfortable is better propping their back with pillows so their chest is more elevated. Beneficial vaccines have made Epiglottitis very rare, and there is little concern.
In mild cases croup can be managed with cool mist or steam therapy by dissolving any sticky or dried mucus in the breathing passages, along with lubricating the throat and windpipe. The condition often worsens at night. It is recommended you sleep with your child to monitor their condition. If it becomes severe you can get them to an emergency room. Once at the hospital, the doctor will explain the procedure and the duration of your child’s stay, which is usually overnight. Infants and children with severe respiratory distress often require oxygenation with ventilation support. If the airway and breathing require further stabilization, the patient should be intubated with an endotracheal tube to stabilize airways. Contact ENT Specialists for the best solutions to all your ear, nose and throat problems.
