When an adult has cardiac related issues, there are numerous factors that may have been the cause. Heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure, can all contribute to emergency cardiac incidents. In children and infants whose hearts are typically young and strong, a cardiac event is troubling because it is unexpected. Most cardiac arrests in the very young can be attributed to an alternate cause that is usually respiration related, like croup.
What is Croup?
Croup sounds awful. The seal bark cough (stridor) and wheezing, sets parents on high alert. It is an alarming medical event that causes anxiety and restlessness for infant and caregiver alike.
The medical name for croup is laryngotracheobronchitis and it occurs when the voice box (larynx), the windpipe (trachea), and the bronchi (pathways to the lungs) become inflamed. This inflammation causes the airway to partially swell, leading to the characteristic barking cough associated with croup. Predominently caused by the Parainfluenza virus, other viruses such as the respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, adenovirus and measles can also play a role in the development of croup.
Croup – Symptoms and Diagnosis
Prior to immunizations, croup was a daunting disease. Today this disorder is more mild, although it can on occasion develop potentially dangerous aspects. Typically croup hits children between the ages of three months to six years and while the virus is usually contracted one time only, reoccurrance can happen in some children that are prone to it, particularly boys.
If croup combines with a bacterial infection, bacterial tracheitis (a rare but infectious upper airway obstruction) can develop that may evolve into epiglottitis. This dangerous combination will require a hospital stay with airway evaluation and intravenous antibiotics.
Croup initially presents with the symptoms of the common cold and a low-grade fever. As croup progresses, additional symptoms that usually present within two to three days include:
- a barking cough similar to a seal bark (worse at night)
- wheezing upon breathing out
- a sore throat, voice loss
- restlessness and irritability
There are no specific tests for diagnosing croup. The distinctive cough is usually sufficient enough for a diagnosis but doctors will always assess for breathing difficulties, poor oxygen intake and additional complications or causes.
Severe croup must be evaluated immediately. If a child develops these additional symptoms, contact healthcare professionals immediately:
- difficulty breathing and rapid shallow breathing that includes, sucked in ribs and chest (retractions); see-saw breathing (abdomen moves opposite to the chest) and nasal flaring
- wheezing becomes high pitched
- dehydration, no fluids being taken in and reduced urine output
- bluish tinge to the skin (cyanosis)
- difficulty talking, words being forced out one at a time
Treatment for Croup
Being a virus, there is no treatment for croup directly. Antibiotics are only prescribed if croup presents alongside a bacterial infection. Severe cases may require hospitalization and treatments with IV fluids, humidified oxygen therapy and albuterol administered through a nebulizer to open the airways. In extremely severe cases with additional complications, maintaining the airway may be necessary.
If a doctor deems the infant stable enough to be treated at home, then recovery may be aided by:
- the use of a portable humidifier
- in cool weather, wrap a child up and take them outside, the cool air can ease breathing
- over-the-counter acetaminophen
- keeping the child calm to prevent crying that stimulates coughing
- keeping the infant propped semi-upright at night
- pushing fluids like milk rather than thinner fluids that may loosen mucus and secretions and increase coughing
Croup is a contagious disease, so avoid exposure to the virus and keep an infected child at home. Keep the home smoke free and practice basic hygiene, particularly handwashing. Never hesitate to seek professional medical help if needed.
