Spokane7
59°
February 25, 2012 in Features
Croup fairly common for children
DEAR DOCTOR K: There have been a few cases of croup in my son’s day care. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before my son gets it. What do I need to know?
DEAR READER: Croup is a fairly common illness in children in the age range of 3 months to 3 years. It is unusual in kids older than 6. It results in a hoarse voice and loud, raspy breathing. Taking in a deep breath, which should be nearly silent, instead is quite noisy. The most recognizable symptom is a harsh, brassy cough that sounds like a seal’s bark.
Croup is an infectious respiratory illness, usually caused by a virus. The virus first infects the throat, then spreads down the back of the throat to the voice box (larynx) and then to the breathing tube (trachea) that leads to the lungs. The lining of the throat, larynx and trachea become inflamed.
Children with croup often have a low-grade fever and mild cold symptoms, such as a runny nose and nasal congestion, before the barking cough and raspy breathing begin.
If your son develops croup, your doctor probably will recommend the following to ease his breathing until the infection goes away:
• Rest or quiet play;
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve any discomfort;
• Drinking plenty of fluids. This will prevent mucus in his lungs from getting thick and difficult to cough up.
• A cool mist vaporizer. Cool mist soothes and moistens the inflamed airways and helps mucus drain.
Symptoms of croup usually go away within three to five days. A mild cough may last a bit longer. In some cases, your doctor also may prescribe corticosteroid drugs. These will help reduce inflammation of the airway.
Fortunately, croup almost always clears up after several days and leaves no lasting damage.
Graves’ is an autoimmune disease 
Laurie_Mom on February 25 at 8:23 a.m.
I am a Mom with 2 children, both had croup. A cool mist humidifier will not work on croup. Moisture or steam does not help the ailment. Cold air is the only remedy that works. Take your child outside to breathe the cold air. The croup symtom will go away in 10 mins. My Pedi only recomends cold air because that is the primary treatment the hospital setting uses. The cold air shrinks the swollen larynx and the child can breathe better very fast. A humidifier will not produce the cold air needed to accomplish this treatment. Stick with cold air only. Hope that helps.
Sahara on February 26 at 6:54 a.m.
Hello Moms….. I have 3 children ages 16 months, 2 years and 3.5 years. I have a tough fight with croup through motherhood with all three children. I have to agree 100% that a cool mist humidier or steam in the bath will not work at its best for croup. Steam does help with the congestion but to remedy the croup in a matter of minutes, cold air was the only thing that worked all the time. We have tried a cool mist humidifer but it takes way too long to produce results and the results were minimum compared to cold air. Plus, using a cool mist humidifier, all of the furniture and bedding inside the infants room got ruined from the moisture. Cold air would be the very best and only thing I would recomend for croup as a mother living through this ailment. I stay away from any & all otc meds due to the infants age. Cold air most certainly does the trick and works very fast on croup. Love to all Moms out there !!!