Croup is a common viral, sometimes bacterial, infection which occurs in a child’s\u00a0upper airways.<\/p>\n
Children between six months and four years experience this illness.<\/p>\n
The condition is rarely seen in older children.<\/p>\n
a. Signs\/Symptoms of Croup<\/strong>. A child who has croup has usually just had a\u00a0cold or other infection. Signs and symptoms of croup include the following:<\/p>\n (1) Airway obstruction caused by edema (swelling of tissues).<\/p>\n (2) Hoarse voice with high-pitched sounds.<\/p>\n (3) A whooping sound when the child breathes in.<\/p>\n (4) Avoidance of lying down. The child breathes easier in an upright\u00a0position than when he is lying down. Therefore, he resists efforts of adults to make him\u00a0lie down.<\/p>\n (5) As edema in the airway increases, the child’s use of his accessory\u00a0muscles of respiration causes the following:<\/p>\n (a) Nasal flaring.<\/p>\n (b) Tracheal tugging.<\/p>\n (c) Retractions of intercostal and suprasternal muscles.<\/p>\n (6) Signs of hypoxia (abnormal reduction of oxygen in body tissues; also\u00a0called oxygen deficiency) such as:<\/p>\n (a) Restlessness.<\/p>\n (b) Increased pulse rate.<\/p>\n (c) Eventually, cyanosis.<\/p>\n NOTE: A croup attack usually occurs at night. A child with croup will seem to be\u00a0fairly healthy during the day, with some hoarseness. He goes to bed and\u00a0begins to have a harsh, metallic cough. This cough progresses to a loud,\u00a0barking, alarming noise around midnight.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n b. Treatment for Croup<\/strong>. Follow these procedures:<\/p>\n (1) Administer humidified oxygen by mask.<\/p>\n (2) Initiate an IV of dextrose in water at the rate of 5 ml per kilogram of the\u00a0child’s weight.<\/p>\n (3) Place the child in the most comfortable position for his breathing.<\/p>\n (4) Transport the child to a medical treatment facility.<\/p>\n NOTE: Similar signs and symptoms may imply upper airway obstruction by a foreign\u00a0object. If this is the case, cautiously visualize the airway with a light. Use\u00a0extreme gentleness to avoid causing a laryngospasm (spasm of the larynx).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n NOTE: The initial treatment given at home to a child with croup is for the parents to\u00a0run a hot shower to humidify the air in the bathroom. A parent then sits close\u00a0to the shower with the child.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Croup is a common viral, sometimes bacterial, infection which occurs in a child’s\u00a0upper airways. Children between six months and four years experience this illness. The condition is rarely seen in older children. a. Signs\/Symptoms of Croup. A child who has croup has usually just had a\u00a0cold or other infection. Signs and symptoms of croup include … Continue reading 3-10. CROUP (LARYNGOTRACHEOBRONCHITIS)<\/span>