Croup Disease – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

An upper airway infection known as croup makes breathing difficult and produces a distinctive rough cough. Croup, which is also known as a viral illness, has swelling around the vocal cords.

Breathing issues and a severe cough that sounds like a barking cough are its defining features. Numerous viruses cause both croup and the common cold. Croup typically affects kids under the age of five and is most prevalent in the fall and winter.

A virus that causes croup in children makes their airways expand. They are easily recognised by their distinctive “barking” cough, raspy voice, high-pitched and squeaky breathing noise.

Symptoms of Croup

A youngster may initially have cold symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose or a fever. A kid may develop a barking cough and hoarseness as the upper airways, including the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea), become inflamed and swollen. The following symptoms are typical of most croup cases.

• Cold symptoms like sneezing and runny nose
• Fever
• Barking cough
• Heavy breathing
• Hoarse voice
• High-pitched sounds when breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Blue or grey skin colouring around the nose, mouth, and fingernails

Causes of Croup

Croup is caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold. Croup can afflict children up to age five and is most frequently observed in the fall.

Viral croup and spasmodic croup, both of which result in the barking cough, are the two forms of croup. Most croup cases are viral.

Bacterial infection

The most typical cause of croup is a bacterial infection. It can occasionally be caused due to allergies or stomach acid reflux. Most croup cases resolve in 48 hours. But sometimes, symptoms can persist for up to two weeks. A child passing away from a Croup is very uncommon.

Viral infection

The parainfluenza virus is one of the viruses that can cause croup. Many illnesses, including pneumonia and middle ear infections, can develop after croup. Listed below are some of the viral infections that may cause croup.

• Parainfluenza virus.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Influenza virus.
• Adenovirus.
• Enteroviruses.

Treatment for Croup

The majority of croup cases are minor and can be manageable at home. However, it is recommended to have a doctor’s consultation before taking any home treatment.

Medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help your child feel better if your child has a fever. You should carefully follow the instructions and ask your healthcare practitioner about the treatment procedures. The following are some of the treatments done for croup.

Steroids

A single dosage of dexamethasone or prednisolone, an oral corticosteroid drug, minimises throat swelling. If your child has breathing difficulties, a hospital visits and treatments like oxygen and adrenaline may be necessary.

Epinephrines

Epinephrine reduces hydrostatic capillary pressure by stimulating the adrenergic system and thereby constricting the precapillary arterioles. As a result, the interstitial fluid is reabsorbed, and the laryngeal mucosal oedema improves.

Incubation

Transmission of the viral Croup can occur through airborne droplets over short distances, direct touch, exposure to nasopharyngeal secretions and direct contact. For parainfluenza type 1 virus, the incubation period is 2 to 6 days; for children, it may take up to 2 weeks.

Hot steam

Take a deep breath in the hot steam. This gives comfort to the airway and kills the residing germs. Also, allow your child to breathe the humid air for ten to fifteen minutes.

Cough medicine 

Children above six years can be given cough drops for the cough, but those under the age of five should not be given any cough drugs as they are considerably less effective.

Heliox

By lowering the viscosity of the inhaled air, heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, may help ventilated newborns avoid morbidity and mortality. It is applied when transferring children with severe croup in an emergency. According to anecdotal evidence, it eases respiratory discomfort.

Antibiotics

The most popular drug for treating all forms of croup is dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid that offers long-lasting and efficient relief. Usually, within six hours of the initial dose, it reduces larynx oedema.

Diagnosis of Croup

The following are some of the ways to diagnose croup.

Croup is diagnosed based on the presence of a barking cough, stridor and hoarseness. Typically, diagnostic testing is not required. Inhaling humidified air does not help people with mild croup symptoms. Patients with croup of any severity need to be given corticosteroids.

Bacterial tracheitis, epiglottitis, foreign body aspiration and smoke inhalation are some of the differential diagnoses. It is crucial to distinguish between croup and epiglottitis.

Croup is a clinical diagnosis that typically does not need for further testing. Sometimes, a lateral airway or chest X-ray may be helpful if the diagnosis is in doubt. Due to subglottic constriction, the steeple sign can be seen on a chest X-ray in Croup.

How can the spread of croup be prevented?

The croup viruses are quickly disseminated by coughing, sneezing and respiratory secretions (mucus, droplets from coughing or sneezing). Children with croup should be treated as contagious for three days following the onset of the illness or until the fever has subsided.

Croup is challenging to prevent since it spreads similarly to the common cold. The primary defence against croup is good hygiene, which includes frequently washing hands and disinfecting surfaces. The routine vaccines you give your child help shield them from some of the illnesses that might cause croup.

Complications of Croup

For croup, use the same precautions as you would to prevent flu and colds. The most crucial step is frequent hand washing. Keep your child away from sick people at all times. Encourage your kid to sneeze or cough into their elbow. By doing this, you can prevent further complications of croup.

Risk factors of croup

Middle ear infection and lymphadenitis, an immune system gland infection, are two further uncommon but potential croup side effects.

The following are some of the potential risk factors for croup.

• Being a male between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old.
• Having a family history of croup.
• Residing in an area with high rate of croup
• Travelling to nations that have high influenza or croup cases.

When should I call a doctor?

Children are usually the only ones that easily get affected by croup. Although an adult can contract the virus from a child, adults are typically not as vulnerable to it as children. This is so because adult airways are bigger and less prone to problems.

It is preferable to keep children at home for at least three days or until they are no longer contagious due to the ease with which the viruses or bacteria that cause croup can spread from one child to another.

Conclusion

Children are usually the only ones that get croup. Although an adult can contract the virus from a child, adults are typically not as vulnerable to it as children are. This is so because adult airways are bigger and less prone to problems.

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