What is Croup?

Types

Physicians classify croup into three types: mild, moderate and severe. Mild croup in a child is little more than the seal like cough with a bit of minor discomfort and low fever. Moderate croup is a bit more serious and in addition to the previously mentioned symptoms, the child also shows noticeable effort when breathing, and may also be breathing noisily while sleeping. A child with severe croup presents with all of these signs, but they are so amplified that there is the fear that his body cannot sustain the continued strain and take in sufficient oxygen.

Croup is easily diagnosed because of the cough that literally imitates the bark of the harbor seal. This cough is accompanied by noisy breathing--even though the nose is clean and there is no mucous being coughed up. The child will be somewhat lethargic, sleep more, tire easily, and also have a fever. The fever may appear and disappear over the course of the croup, which usually lasts three to five days to completely run its course.

If you are at home and suspect that your child has croup, be careful to first rule out any physical obstruction of the airways that could be causing the noisy breathing. The symptoms may appear similar if your child swallowed a small object that is lodged in his throat. Always listen for the unmistakable cough before self diagnosing. In case of a doubt, it is crucial to visit your emergency room immediately.

Parainfluenza virus photo by CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer/Wikimedia Commons
Croup is caused by the human parainfluenza virus, types one and two. It is contagious and takes between 24 hours and seven days to cause the symptoms already outlined. It may be passed on by older children to younger siblings through touch. Older children may pick up the virus in school when exposed to other carriers and---although no longer susceptible to croup themselves---bring it home where children vulnerable due to age may come down with the croup. Since the virus is thought to be viable for a few hours outside of the human body, hand washing is stressed as a premier means of preventing the spread.

There is no vaccine against the human parainfluenza virus. Moreover, since croup is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not indicated in the treatment of the illness. Prevention is best accomplished by frequent hand washing prior to interacting with a child six years of age and under. If you have a child in your home who already has come down with the croup, do not bother with cold and cough medicines. Since croup is actually a narrowing of the airways, these drugs will accomplish little. Instead, keep an eye on the fever and offer fever reducers and plenty of liquids. Operating a humidifier at night is also a good idea. If the croup is moderate or severe, a physician's help may need to be enlisted to decide on medical treatment. Most often medications will include the injection of a steroid, the administration of oxygen, and also hospitalization in severe cases.

It is a common misconception that croup is a 100% harmless condition that all kids come down with at one point in time or another. This is not the case. Please do not mistake this article for medical advice or as a license to withhold medical care from your child. Respiratory illnesses are very serious, and--depending on your child's age, overall health, and also blood oxygenation levels---they can be deadly. Always proceed with caution and involve your child's doctor immediately at the first sign of distress.