Croup

Croup: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Croup is a respiratory disorder that commonly affects young children, usually between the ages of six months and five years. Parainfluenza, a viral infection, typically causes inflammation and oedema in the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and bronchi. Such inflammation produces hoarseness, a characteristic barking cough, and trouble breathing.
Typically, croup begins as a mild cold, accompanied by nasal congestion and fever. Particularly when the youngster exhales, swelling in the airways generates stridor—a high-pitched breathing sound—as the illness advances. Symptoms often cause spells of breathing difficulty, usually worsening at night.
Treating croup mostly addresses breathing problems. You can control mild instances at home by providing humidified air, fluids, and soothing the child to stop agitation. Doctors might provide corticosteroids to lower inflammation or, in severe cases, nebulised epinephrine to quickly expand the airways if breathing becomes laboured.
Although croup normally disappears within a week and is self-limiting, severe instances could require hospitalisation. If a kid has problems breathing, recurrent stridor, or symptoms of oxygen deprivation—such as bluish lips or excessive tiredness—parents should consult a doctor.