My Baby Has Croup :(
Posted: December 16th, 2009, 12:58 amMy little girl Olivia has been unwell for a few days and we thought she just had a cold, i had to phone NHS24(medical helpline) tonight because she coughed that much she was sick and she is only 11 months old so i was very worried, i dont need to take her to the hospital but she is really unwell, she has been diagnosed with Croup, so i googled it to read more into it and here is what i found x.
Croup
Contagiousness
Outbreaks of croup tend to occur in the fall and early winter when the viruses that cause it peak. Many children who come in contact with the viruses that cause croup will not get croup, but will instead have symptoms of a common cold.
Diagnosis
Doctors can usually diagnose croup by listening for the telltale barking cough and stridor. They will also ask if your child has had any recent illnesses with a fever, runny nose, and congestion, and if your child has a history of croup or upper airway problems.
If a child's croup is severe and slow to respond to treatment, a neck X-ray may be taken to rule out any other reasons for the breathing difficulty, such as a foreign object lodged in the throat, an abscess behind the throat, or epiglottitis (a inflammation of the epiglottis, the flap of tissue that covers the windpipe). Typical findings on an X-ray if a child has croup includes the top of the airway narrowing to a point, which doctors call a 'steeple sign'
Treatment
Most, though not all, cases of viral croup are mild. Breathing in moist air seems to make kids feel better. And ibuprofen or acetaminophen can make a child feel more comfortable. Doctors will also sometimes treat with steroids, which help with the airway swelling.
The best way to expose your child to moist air is to use a cool mist humidifier, or run a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Breathing in the mist will sometimes stop a child from severe coughing. In the cooler months, try taking your child outside for a few minutes to breath in the cool air … this may also alleviate symptoms. You can also try driving your child around in the car with the windows down.
When your child is sick, you might also want to consider sleeping overnight in the same room to provide close observation. If you are not able to break your child's fast breathing and croupy cough, call your child's doctor or seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Medical professionals will need to evaluate your child if the croup appears serious or if there's any suspicion of airway blockage. If the croup becomes severe, doctors will give a breathing treatment that contains epinephrine (adrenalin). This reduces swelling in the airway quickly. Oxygen may also be given, and sometimes a child with croup will remain in the hospital overnight for observation. As with most illnesses, rest and plenty of fluids are recommended.
Croup
Contagiousness
Outbreaks of croup tend to occur in the fall and early winter when the viruses that cause it peak. Many children who come in contact with the viruses that cause croup will not get croup, but will instead have symptoms of a common cold.
Diagnosis
Doctors can usually diagnose croup by listening for the telltale barking cough and stridor. They will also ask if your child has had any recent illnesses with a fever, runny nose, and congestion, and if your child has a history of croup or upper airway problems.
If a child's croup is severe and slow to respond to treatment, a neck X-ray may be taken to rule out any other reasons for the breathing difficulty, such as a foreign object lodged in the throat, an abscess behind the throat, or epiglottitis (a inflammation of the epiglottis, the flap of tissue that covers the windpipe). Typical findings on an X-ray if a child has croup includes the top of the airway narrowing to a point, which doctors call a 'steeple sign'
Treatment
Most, though not all, cases of viral croup are mild. Breathing in moist air seems to make kids feel better. And ibuprofen or acetaminophen can make a child feel more comfortable. Doctors will also sometimes treat with steroids, which help with the airway swelling.
The best way to expose your child to moist air is to use a cool mist humidifier, or run a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Breathing in the mist will sometimes stop a child from severe coughing. In the cooler months, try taking your child outside for a few minutes to breath in the cool air … this may also alleviate symptoms. You can also try driving your child around in the car with the windows down.
When your child is sick, you might also want to consider sleeping overnight in the same room to provide close observation. If you are not able to break your child's fast breathing and croupy cough, call your child's doctor or seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Medical professionals will need to evaluate your child if the croup appears serious or if there's any suspicion of airway blockage. If the croup becomes severe, doctors will give a breathing treatment that contains epinephrine (adrenalin). This reduces swelling in the airway quickly. Oxygen may also be given, and sometimes a child with croup will remain in the hospital overnight for observation. As with most illnesses, rest and plenty of fluids are recommended.
