A secondary infection can sometimes develop following the initial viral infection that caused croup. A secondary infection can potentially cause: pneumonia, a chest infection which causes swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs.
Croup can be mild in nature and may even resolve without medical attention; however, if left untreated, severe cases can eventually lead to respiratory failure. With proper treatment, even the most severe cases of croup rarely result in hospitalization.
Croup often begins without warning, in the middle of the night. The symptoms are often worse at night, and are at their worst on the second or third night of the illness. The signs and symptoms of croup may last for three to four days; however, a cough may linger for up to three weeks. The stridor should not persist.
Hughes, signs your child has severe croup include: Difficulty breathing accompanied by a “barking” or “croupy” cough. Stridor (noisy breathing with inspiration) even at rest. Chest area around the collarbone and ribs pulling in with each breath (called retraction)
Most cases of croup are mild. In a small number of children, the airway swells enough to cause problems with breathing. Rarely, a bacterial infection of the windpipe can occur in addition to the viral infection. This can result in trouble breathing and requires emergency medical care.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child's lips or face turns bluish, if he is working hard to breathe, cannot speak or drink, or is drooling.
Because croup is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help your child get better. But children sometimes get an ear infection or other bacterial infection along with croup. Antibiotics may help in that case. The doctor has checked your child carefully, but problems can develop later.
A secondary infection can sometimes develop following the initial viral infection that caused croup. A secondary infection can potentially cause: pneumonia, a chest infection which causes swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs.
In severe cases of croup, or if your child is not breathing well, your child may need to go to the hospital. You can manage most milder cases at home.
Most cases of croup can be treated successfully at home. However, children with severe cases of croup may need to be treated in the hospital. Call 911 or an ambulance right away if your child: Makes a whistling sound (called stridor) that gets louder with each breath.
A corticosteroid — such as dexamethasone — may be given to reduce swelling in the airway. Symptoms will usually start to improve within a few hours. Your child may take pills over several days. Or your child may get a single dose of dexamethasone as a shot because of its long-lasting effects.
Dexamethasone — Dexamethasone is the most frequently used medication for the treatment of all types of croup; it is a glucocorticoid that provides long-lasting and effective treatment. It works by decreasing swelling of the larynx, usually within six hours of the first dose.
Your child may receive a dose of a steroid called dexamethasone, which helps shrink the swelling in your child's airways. In severe cases, they may receive a breathing treatment of a medicine called racemic epinephrine that will actually help really quickly shrink the airway swelling down.
Croup is caused by a viral infection that leads to swelling of the lining of the airways, particularly the area just below the voice box (larynx). Croup can also be caused by other viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus. Respiratory syncytial virus is a very common cause of... read more (RSV) or an influenza ...
Sometimes we will prescribe a steroid – either a shot or an oral medicine (dexamethasone or prednisone), and symptoms will improve and a severe attack will be averted. Other times we might assess and determine that a steroid is not necessary. Since a virus, not a bacterium, causes croup antibiotics will not help.
Severe croup requires emergency medical attention. You know your child best, so trust your instincts if your child doesn't seem well. If your child has significant breathing difficulties, your child's skin or lips are pale or blue, or your child is drowsy or hard to wake up, call 000 for an ambulance.
Severe croup can lead to other complications, such as ear infections, respiratory distress or pneumonia.
Kids with croup have a virus that makes their airways swell. They have a telltale "barking" cough (often compared to the sound of a seal's bark) and a raspy voice, and make a high-pitched, squeaky noise when they breathe.
RSV, or Respiratory syncytial virus, and croup are not the same things, but they are related. 6 to 8% of croup cases are caused by RSV. RSV symptoms may include nasal drainage, congestion, wheezing, labored breathing, fever and dehydration.
Croup is spread through direct contact with a person, or fluids from another person who has the disease. The infection starts in the nose and throat and moves into the lungs. Swelling affects the area around the voice box (larynx) and into the windpipe (trachea).
Croup often occurs in children, typically between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. There is no outright cure for croup. While the infection tends to resolve on its own within a few days, symptoms — including a cough — may linger for a few weeks.
Sleep. Children with croup should be allowed to rest as much as possible because this helps their body to fight the viral infection that is responsible for causing croup.
Croup symptoms generally peak 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of the viral infection begin and typically last 3 to 7 days. Symptoms are worse at night and when the child is excited, exercising or crying. The vast majority of children recover from croup with no complications.