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Viral croup is usually found in children under
the age of 5 years old and is caused by inflammation of the upper airwaves,
it is a viral infection and one that is very common in younger children
and is known by the medical term of stridorous laryngitis.
What are the symptoms of croup? Viral croup will normally start off with
symptoms of the common cold which will then develop into the deep seal
like barking cough that is characteristic of croup, along with the cough
will be raspy breathing which is known as the stridor and usually gets
much worse due to physical activity.
Many children who have croup will also develop a low fever and the severity
of the illness will depend on how swollen the airways are and how blocked
they become. If they are severely blocked then the child's breathing will
be extremely laboured and the child will show lethargy.
The illness will generally worsen at night and can last for around 5 days
after which it usually subsides of its own accord. Croup is normally diagnosed
as being mild, moderate or severe and medical personnel will normally
determine this by the croup score, taking into account the child's breathing
pattern, rate of breathing and colour. The higher the child scores on
this chart the more severe the case of croup.
What is the treatment for croup?
The most alarming symptom of croup is the cough, which can sound very
distressing, often it sounds worse than it is and most cases of croup
are only classed as mild and treatment will vary depending on the severity.
Mild cases of croup
Cold humid air is the number one source of treatment for mild croup, this
is usually achieved by allowing air into the child's room through an open
window, another way is to allow the shower to run preferably with cold
water and have the child in the bathroom for a short period of time.
Moderate to severe croup
In the most severe of cases, a child can have problems with breathing;
if this is the case then the child may need to be admitted to the hospital
for a period of time. Signs that your child may need medical help immediately
are: * Stridor that gets louder with each successive breath
* An inability to speak due to problems breathing
* Laboured or very rapid breathing
* Very pale or bluish mouth
* Stridor when resting
* Excessive drooling
* An inability to eat or drink
What will happen if my child has to be admitted to hospital?
Your child will be given an evaluation and will be given oxygen if necessary,
intravenous fluids may also be given if it is suspected that your child
may be dehydrated. In the most severe cases of croup, steroid injections
and inhaled preparations may also be prescribed.
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