Thanks everyone. My poor kid has been barking like a dog. She's on steroids now. I hope this passes quickly...poor thing can't breathe!
@Ally: Have you tried running a really hot shower, shutting the bathroom door and having her sit in there? Steam should help b/c if it is a barking cough, it could be croup. Cold air helps too.Â
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Croup (cont.)
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Medical Author:
John Mersch, MD, FAAP
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Croup Index
What is the treatment for croup?
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Croup can be frightening for both children and parents. Therefore,
comforting and reassuring the child is the first step. Breathing
difficulties can develop and worsen rapidly. Close monitoring of the
child is important during the early phases of the illness.
To help the child breathe more comfortably, a cool or warm mist
vaporizer can be placed near the child. The humidified air promotes
reduction of vocal cord swelling and thus lessens symptoms. To avoid
accidental burns,
hot water vaporizers should be out of the reach of infants and
toddlers. Also effective is having the child breathe in a bathroom
steamed up with hot water from the tub or shower. When cough or stridor
worsens at night, 10 or 15 minutes sitting or driving in the cool night
air can also help the child breathe.
In infants and children, blockage in the nasal passages from mucus can
further impair breathing. Careful instillation of saltwater nose drops
(¼ teaspoon of table salt in
1 cup of water) into the nasal openings every few hours, followed by
gentle suction using a bulb syringe, can be helpful in opening nasal
passages.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding most combination
cough and cold medicines. Several studies show that these medicines are
ineffective in children. They can potentially cause side effects that
could lead to more serious symptoms. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen
(Motrin, Advil) are helpful for pain relief and fever. Aspirin is
avoided in the treatment of croup and other viral illnesses since
aspirin is suspected as being related to Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a serious illness causing kidney, liver, and brain damage, which can lead to the rapid onset of coma.
Occasionally, cortisone medications are prescribed for more severe
cases of croup. Because a virus usually causes croup, antibiotics are
reserved for those rare occasions when bacterial infections cause croup
or become superimposed on the viral infection.
Even though plenty of fluids are encouraged to avoid dehydration,
forcing fluids is generally unnecessary. Popsicles are a popular means
of providing fluid. Activity should be restricted to quiet play during
the first days of the illness.
Children with croup are most contagious during the first days of fever
and illness. Infection spreads easily in a household. Other children in
the family will often develop a sore throat or a cough, without
necessarily developing the croupy cough and stridor seen in croup.
Infants and children may return to school or day care when their
temperature is normal and they feel better. A lingering cough can last
another two weeks but should not be the reason to keep them at home.
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