WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CROUP

Check out my pinned Instagram highlight on croup here.

So, what is croup and why is it scary?

Those mamas that have had a child with croup know exactly what I'm talking about here! The noisy breathing and "barky" cough can be concerning, especially in young children. 

Croup is not an illness itself but is swelling in the upper airway caused by infection. It can obstruct breathing and causes the famous "barking" cough. Other symptoms include fever, hoarse voice, labored breathing, and stridor (noisy breathing).

It's really important to know that the barky cough and stridor are always worse when the child is upset, agitated, and/or crying. Symptoms are typically worse at night and usually last 3-5 days.

Good news though... croup can usually be cared for at home!

So, what can you do at home if your child has croup?

1. Keep your child calm. Comfort and/or distract your child because crying makes breathing more difficult. 

2. Provide humidified or cool air. You can use a humidifier or sit with the child in the bathroom filled with steam from the hot shower. If it's cool outside, open a window or take your child outside to breathe the cool air. 

3. Offer fluids. Formula & breast milk are okay for babies but for older children, a cold drink or popsicle may be soothing. 

4. Ibuprofen/Motrin helps with the fever and inflammation in the airway. 

5. Skip the over-the-counter cold preparations. They aren't recommended for children of any age and won't help croup.  

And remember, prevention is key!

Good hand washing

Stay away from sick contacts

Encourage your child to cough & sneeze into his/her elbow

Eat a balanced diet and take supplements/vitamins as needed

Drink lots of water 

And, get adequate sleep 

You should seek emergent medical attention for the following:

-Stridor at rest with inhaling & exhaling

-Drooling or difficulty swallowing

-Fatigue or listlessness

-Fast breathing or respiratory distress (using accessory muscles to breathe) or, 

-Blue or grayish skin around the nose, mouth, or fingernails. 

This is the time of year when we start to see more croup in children. Kids ages six months to 5 years are the most affected by croup. So remember to stay healthy and help prevent croup as best you can. I'm wishing you a very healthy and happy holiday season this month.