Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Croup

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We just learned about Mumps in my last article in the Childhood Diseases series. Just to recap, Mumps is a very contagious disease that is caused by a virus that passes from one person to another through saliva, nasal secretions and close personal contact. Because it is a viral infection there is no antibiotic or medication that can be prescribed. Unfortunately it has to run its course. There is a two dose vaccination to protect your child from getting the mumps and is highly recommended by the medical field. Mumps primarily affects the salivary glands, called the Parotid Glands. These glands will swell causing a painful lump on either side of the face. Today I want to move onto another childhood disease called Croup.

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What is Croup

According to the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/croup/symptoms-causes/syc-20350348) Croup is a viral infection of the upper airway that obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic ”barking” cough. This swelling around the vocal cords (larynx), windpipe (trachea) and bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes it harder to force air through narrow passageways. So when a cough forces the air through the narrow passage, the swollen vocal cords produce a noise similar to a seal barking according to the Mayo Clinic. Also, a patient with Croup will produce a high-pitched whistling sound (stridor) when taking a breath.

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What Causes Croup?

There are many viruses that can cause Croup. According to Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/croup#overview1) many cases of croup come from parainfluenza viruses which is related to the common cold. Some of the other viruses that may cause croup include adenovirus which is another group of common cold viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and paramyxovirus.

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What Are the Risk Factors of Getting Croup?

Cancer Care of Western New York (https://www.cancercarewny.com/content.aspx?chunkiid=11922) stated that Croup usually occurs most often in children between age 6 months and 3 years. The reason for this is that during these ages, the children’s airways are smaller. As they grow older, so do their airways, so there is less likelihood for the chance of croup to occur.

Cancer Care of Western New York also listed factors that may increase the risk of croup:

• Attending day care

• History of croup

• Family history of croup

• Frequent upper respiratory infections

• Colder months: October through March

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What Are the Symptoms of Croup?

Children with croup start off with a few days of a low-grade fever, cough, runny nose and then suddenly, usually during the night, develop the following according to Very Well (https://www.verywell.com/croup-symptoms-2633465):

• A bark-like cough

• A hoarse voice

• Difficulty breathing and inspiratory stridor (a snoring type of noise that kids with croup can make when they breathe in), which can often be confused with wheezing

• Continued fever, which can be low-grade or up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, although some kids with
  croup don't have any fever at all

Children with croup usually have the worse symptoms during the night as compared to the daytime hours. According to this article, symptoms get better when the child is exposed to cool air.

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When to Seek Medical Help

Also according to Very Well if these more severe symptoms occur, you should contact the doctor:

• Difficulty breathing or stridor when your child is sleeping, calm, or not agitated

• Having croup and being very fussy

• Drooling and difficulties swallowing

• Visible pallor or a bluish discoloration of their fingernails or around his or her mouth

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How is Croup Diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, some doctors will also have Neck & Chest X-rays, a Blood Testand a Pulse Oximetry procedures done. The pulse oximetry measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.

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Treatment For Croup

According to Stanford Children’s Health (http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=croup-90-P02942) the specific treatment for croup will be based on the “child’s overall health and medical history, the extent of the disease, the child’s tolerance for specific medication, procedures or therapies, expectations for the course of the disease and parents opinion or preference.” The final decision will be made by the child’s doctor.

In more serious cases of croup where the child is not breathing well, sometimes hospitalization may be considered. There are other things the doctor will consider if the child’s condition warrants it like breathing treatments, injections of medication, and steroids by mouth.

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Stanford Children’s Health also listed supportive treatment at home:

• Using a cool mist humidifier

• Taking the child outside into cool, moist, night air

• Increased fluid intake

• Treating a fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as instructed by your child's doctor

• Keeping your child as quiet and calm as possible to help decrease the breathing effort

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Prevention of Croup

NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/croup/overview.html) recommends the following to prevent getting croup:

• Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with people who have a respiratory infection.

• Many cases of croup can be prevented with immunizations. The diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), and measles vaccines protect children from some of the most dangerous forms of croup.

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So to summarize, Croup is a respiratory illness that is usually caused by a virus. As this progresses, the trachea becomes swollen which narrows the space available for the air to get to the lungs. The viruses spread easily through coughing, sneezing and saliva. Children who do have croup are contagious for three days after the symptoms begin or until the fever is gone. In most cases Croup is usually mild but there are cases for the symptoms to become more severe. If the symptoms do become significantly worse, it is advised for you to call the physician.

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I hope you learned something from this article about Croup. There are many resources on the internet if you need more specific information. I will continue this series with another childhood disease post. I hope you will continue to join me in this quest to learn about these illnesses that children usually encounter when they are young. Thank-you for reading my article on Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Croup. If you would like to follow me, please check HERE

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These are my previous articles. if you are interested in reading it:

Neuroplasticity: Hope For People With Anxiety?
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-hope-for-people-with-anxiety

Neuroplasticity: How to deal with Anxiety Disorders Like Panic Attacks
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-how-to-deal-with-anxiety-disorders-like-panic-attacks

Neuroplasticity: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt

Neuroplasticity: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy

Neuroplasticity: Self-Directed Neuroplasticity Exercises
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-self-directed-neuroplasticity-exercises

Neuroplasticity: Music & Music Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-music-and-music-therapy

Neuroplasticity: Meditation and Anxiety
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-meditation-and-anxiety

Neuroplasticity: Brainwave Entrainment
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-brainwave-entrainment

Anxiety and CBD: An Introduction to Cannabinoid
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/anxiety-and-cbd-an-introduction-to-cannabinoid

Childhood Injuries: Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-injuries-concussions

Childhood Injuries: Post Concussion Syndrome & Recovery & Safety Measures To Prevent Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-injuries-post-concussion-syndrome-and-recovery-and-safety-measures-to-prevent-concussions

Youth Sports: The Benefits of Youth Sports & Increase Incidents of Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/youth-sports-the-benefits-of-youth-sports-and-increase-incidents-of-concussions

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https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-measles

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Mumps
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-mumps

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