Croup is a childhood condition that affects the windpipe (trachea), the airways to the lungs (the bronchi) and the voice box (larynx). Children with croup have a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in. They may also have a hoarse voice and find it difficult to breathe because their airway is blocked.
Croup can usually be diagnosed by your family doctor/ GP and treated
at home. However, if your child’s symptoms are severe and they are finding it
difficult to breathe, take them to the nearest hospital’s accident and
emergency (A&E) department.
Why does
croup happen?
Commonly, croup is caused by a virus. Several
viruses can cause croup but in most cases it is the parainfluenza virus.
Who is
affected by croup?
Croup usually affects young children aged between
six months and three years, with most cases occurring in one-year-olds. However, croup can sometimes develop in babies as
young as three months, and older children up to 15 years of age. Adults can
also get croup but this is rare.
The condition is more common during the late
autumn and early winter months. It tends to affect more boys than girls. A child may experience croup more than once during
childhood.
Treating
croup
Most cases of croup are mild and can be treated at
home. Sitting your child upright and comforting them if they are distressed is
important, because crying may make symptoms worse. Your child should also drink
plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
A single dose of an oral corticosteroid
medication called dexamethasone or prednisolone will usually also be prescribed
to help reduce the swelling in the throat. If your child has breathing problems they may need
hospital treatment, such as adrenaline and oxygen through a mask.
Complications
Most cases of croup clear up within 48
hours. However, in some cases symptoms can last for up to two weeks. It is extremely rare for a child to die from croup. There are a number of conditions that can
follow croup, such as pneumonia and middle ear infection.
Preventing
croup
Croup is spread in a similar way to the common
cold, so it is difficult to prevent. Good hygiene is the main defence against croup,
such as regularly washing hands and cleaning surfaces.
A number of your child's routine vaccinations also
protect against some of the infections that can cause croup. These include:
- MMR – protection from measles,
mumps and rubella
- DTaP/IPV/Hib – protection from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Source: NHS Choices
