Does your little one have this "cough" too? Let's talk about croup!

Sometimes you may have noticed that your little one suddenly starts to bark strangely, like a dog barking. Along with that, there is a strange sound when breathing. This is what we often call croup . Today we are going to talk about this common condition in young children, especially babies between 6 months and 3 years old. Don't worry, this usually subsides in about a week. But it is very important for you to know about this.

What is this croup?

Simply put, croup is a temporary swelling of the upper respiratory tract, or upper part of the throat, in young children caused by a virus . Specifically, the child's voice box (larynx) , which is where the sound comes from when we speak, and the trachea (windpipe) , which is the main tube that carries air to the lungs , become swollen due to this virus . Think about it, these tubes are usually a little narrower in young children. So when these are swollen, the breathing path becomes even narrower. That's why there's that strange cough and the noise when you breathe. There are several types of viruses that cause this, just like the viruses that cause us colds .

What are the symptoms of croup?

Now let's look at the main symptoms that a child may experience when they have croup. It is very important for you to recognize these, because then you can quickly understand what your child has.

"Barking Cough"

This is the main and most easily recognizable symptom of croup. To be precise, it is a deep, hoarse cough that sounds like a seal roaring or a small puppy barking. Some mothers say, "It sounds like someone is beating a drum, doctor." This is very different from a common cold cough. This cough is often worse at night . It may be a little less during the day.

Strange noise when breathing (Stridor)

The next most important thing is a high-pitched, whistling sound that is made when breathing, especially when breathing in . In medicine, we call this stridor . It is a sound like the airway is being blocked. Sometimes this sound may not be heard when the child is calm, but when the child cries or is upset, this sound is very audible. The presence of this sound means that the airway is slightly narrowed.

Voice change (Hoarseness)

Another thing is that the child's voice becomes hoarse, or the voice is lost . It's like when we sing and our throat gets blocked. Sometimes the voice can be so hoarse that we can't even speak. The reason for this is, as mentioned earlier, the swelling of the vocal cords (larynx).

How does croup start? How do symptoms worsen?

Croup often doesn't start with a barking cough. The child first shows symptoms of a common cold .

• A runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Maybe a slight fever (usually not a high fever)
• A slight itch or pain in the throat

After a day or two of this, the upper respiratory tract, that is, the larynx and trachea, gradually begin to swell. That's when the previously mentioned "barking cough" and hoarseness of the voice begin.

Now imagine, what happens if this swelling increases? That's when breathing difficulties increase.

• The baby starts breathing very quickly .
• Stridor is a loud, whistling sound that can be heard when the child is breathing, sometimes even when they are calm.
• Another thing is chest retractions . This means that when the baby breathes, the skin between the ribs appears to pull inward. Sometimes the lower part of the neck (the hollow area around the collarbone) also pulls inward in this way. This shows that the baby is having difficulty breathing and is making a lot of effort. If you see these symptoms, you should be a little concerned.

When should we be more concerned about croup? What are the dangerous symptoms?

Croup is often a self-limiting illness that can be treated at home or with medication prescribed by a doctor. However, in some cases, it can be serious . So you should be very careful about these symptoms. If you notice any of these , you should see a doctor immediately, or you may need to go to the hospital :

• If your child's skin turns pale, or the lips, tongue, or fingernails turn blue , this is because the body is not getting enough oxygen . This is a very dangerous sign and you should go to the hospital immediately .
• If the child seems to be having a hard time breathing , that is, if they are struggling to breathe, if they seem to be suffocating, if their nostrils are flaring when they breathe.
• If the child seems very agitated, or if he seems lethargic, sleepy , or uninterested.
• If the child is unable to drink anything or is spitting out of the mouth (due to difficulty swallowing).
• If the previously mentioned stridor sound is persistent and loud even when the child is calm .
• If the child has a very high fever (over 102-103F) and it is treated with paracetamol (If it doesn't subside with Paracetamol .
• If the child is under 3 months old and has these symptoms.

Important: If your child has any of these symptoms, don't waste any time and see a doctor immediately. Sometimes, you may need to be hospitalized and given oxygen, or special medications to reduce swelling in the airways.

What can you do at home when you have croup?

Okay, now you have a problem with croup, so what can you do at home to help your little one feel better? Remember, these are just to help ease the symptoms, not to put off seeing a doctor. If your child seems to be having trouble, definitely see a doctor.

• Keep your baby calm: When your baby cries, becomes agitated, coughing, and has difficulty breathing can increase. So stay calm and soothe your baby. Hold him, talk to him, and sing him a song he likes.
• Humid air: Sometimes breathing in humid air can help reduce swelling in the airways. You can close the bathroom door, run a hot shower, and stay in the steamy room with your baby for 10-15 minutes. But never leave your baby alone near hot water! Also, some doctors say that it is good to have a cool, moist breeze at night. This is like leaving a window slightly open (depending on the weather). Talk to your doctor about this.
• Fluids: If your baby has a fever, they may become dehydrated. So give them fluids that are not hot, in small amounts. If you are breastfeeding, continue to give them fluids. You can give things like water and fruit juice (low in sugar).
• Reduce fever: If there is a fever, you can give something like Paracetamol, as prescribed by a doctor, in the correct dosage for the child's weight. Do not give Aspirin to young children.
• Keep your child away from smoke: Keep your child away from cigarette smoke, wood stove smoke, and mosquito coil smoke, as these can make coughing worse.
• Keep the head elevated: Keep your baby's head slightly elevated while sleeping (like with an extra pillow). This can make breathing a little easier. However, you need to be very careful when using pillows for small babies.

How long does croup usually take to recover from?

The good news is that most children with croup get better within 3 to 5 days.Sometimes the cough may last for a few more days, a week or two, but the severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath and stridor, will gradually subside. However, if you have the more serious symptoms, as I mentioned earlier, don't wait that long.

What you need to remember from what we've talked about (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so we talked a lot about croup today, didn't we? I think you have a good understanding of this now.

Finally, here are some things to remember:

* Croup is a viral condition that causes swelling of the larynx and trachea, the upper respiratory tract of young children.

* The main symptoms are a "barking cough" , a harsh sound when breathing (stridor) , and a hoarse voice .

* It may start like a cold, and then these symptoms may appear, especially at night.

* If the child's lips turn blue, if they have difficulty breathing, or if they seem very lifeless, see a doctor immediately .

* This usually resolves within a few days. Keeping the child calm, moist, and giving fluids can help.

* If you have any doubts, don't be afraid to consult a doctor. That's the best thing you can do for yourself and your little one.

Croup , Barking Cough, Stridor, Children's Diseases, Respiratory Diseases, Colds