Friday, January 13, 2012

What Is Croup And How Is It Treated?

By Sandy Rutherforde


There is a great chance that upon reading this article you are going to have a vague flashback to an upsetting time as a small child when you were afflicted by croup. In the course of a few days in bed, you'll have spent your time dealing with a horrible cough, wheezy breathing and an overall poor feeling.

Having an effect on approximately 15% of all young children, croup becomes very unusual after age six. It is fairly simple to take care of, but is often very upsetting for smaller children due to its persistent symptoms which cause a great deal of discomfort.

In this article, we'll be going over a few of the most often asked questions relating to the ailment such as what is croup, how to recognize the croup cough and is croup contagious.

What Exactly is Croup?

Usually occurring during the winter during an epidemic, croup is usually brought on by a viral infection that has an effect on the two airways branching off of the trachea. This infection subsequently will cause inflammation which can make breathing harder than usual and will always end in the notorious croup cough.

Despite commonly being viral in nature, croup also can be spasmodic and take place occasionally even with no infection being present. The symptoms of spasmodic croup are usually just like the viral version as are the recommended treatments.

Recognizing the Croup Cough

Somewhat onomatopoeic, the croup cough is usually unmistakable. As a cause of the inflamed trachea, the vocal cords in the larynx become inflamed and this brings about a notably barky cough followed by a wheezy sound within the throat (a "stridor").

Due to the severity of both the cough and the subsequent stridor, croup can be rather upsetting for both parent and child despite the relative ease of treatment. When coupled with higher temperatures, sore throat and issues in breathing, the time between the development of the ailment and its eventual treatment can be unpleasant and tiring for everyone concerned.

Is Croup Contagious?

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

Since croup is primarily brought on by the identical viruses that are accountable for the normal variety of bugs and colds contracted by kids, these also can result in the development of croup. Contagion is consequently a lot more probable during the winter and will frequently sweep through a nursery in the space of a couple weeks.

How is Croup Treated?

In the event you think that your child has croup, then pay a visit to your doctor immediately. You'll often be encouraged to give your child Calpol (or something very similar), ensure that their fever is controlled and to give them cool beverages. A steroid based medicine will often be given and will in the majority of instances begin to alleviate symptoms within four hours of application.




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