Croup Symptoms and Treatment   by Sandy Rutherforde

in Health / Diseases and Conditions    (submitted 2012-01-10)

There is a very good chance that upon reading this article you'll have a vague flashback to an upsetting time as a small child when you were afflicted by croup. During a few days in bed, you'll have spent your time beset by a horrible cough, wheezy breathing and an overall poor feeling.

Impacting around 15% of all young children, croup is really unusual after age six. It is quite basic to treat, but is usually extremely upsetting for small kids on account of its persistent symptoms which cause a great deal of discomfort.

In the course of this article, we'll be covering a few of the most often asked questions regarding the ailment such as what is croup, how you can recognize the croup cough and is croup contagious.

Exactly what is Croup?

Typically developing during the winter during an epidemic, croup is usually due to a viral infection that impacts the two airways leading off the trachea. This particular infection subsequently will cause inflammation that will make breathing harder than usual and will always end in the notorious croup cough.

Despite commonly being viral in nature, croup can also be spasmodic and occur infrequently even with no infection being present. The symptoms of spasmodic croup are often the same as the viral type as are the recommended remedies.

Identifying the Croup Cough

Rather onomatopoeic, the croup cough is often unmistakable. As a source of the inflamed trachea, the vocal cords in the larynx end up swollen which leads to a particularly barky cough followed by a wheezy sound inside the throat (known as a "stridor").

Due to the harshness of both the cough and the following stridor, croup is often rather upsetting for both parent and young child despite the relative ease of treatment. When in conjunction with higher temperatures, sore throat and difficulty in breathing, the time between the development of the ailment and its eventual treatment is often uncomfortable and exhausting for everyone involved.

Is Croup Contagious?

Because kids at the age at when croup usually occurs spend lots of time with others of the same years, it's not unexpected that one of the most frequently asked questions about the condition is, is croup contagious? And unfortunately the answer is a resounding yes.

Because croup is basically a result of the identical viruses that are to blame for the normal variety of bugs and colds developed by children, these too may result in the development of croup. Contagion is consequently more probable during the winter months and will quite often pass through a nursery in the space of a couple weeks.

How is Croup Dealt With?

In the event you think that your youngster has croup, then go to your doctor immediately. You will typically be advised to give your child Calpol (or something very similar), be sure their fever is controlled and to give them cool beverages. A steroid based medicine will usually be prescribed and will in the majority of cases start to alleviate symptoms in four hours of application.

About the Author

Do you have a family member suffering from croup? Be sure to visit Patient.co.uk to find out is croup contagious and methods of treatment.