Croup, known in medical-speak as laryngotracheobronchitis, keeps many parents awake at night. Because croup is an infection of the throat, it generally affects the vocal cords, leaving them red, raw, swollen and quite painful in the affected toddler (the most likely age group to suffer from this temporary though quite distressing condition).
Caused by a viral infection, croup is most common in winter and early spring, and may not only affect the throat or vocal cords but spread to the trachea (windpipe) and lungs.
Learn to recognize the symptoms of croup so you can offer your child prompt attention, which typically involves methods of providing relief from discomfort caused by the infection.
Instructions
1. Watch your child for signs of a common cold, such as a stuffy nose, complaints of a headache, or coughing, which mimic the symptoms that generally accompany croup. However, the difference between a cold and croup is that croup will come on suddenly, while a cold may take several days to develop.
2. Listen to your child as she coughs. One of the tell-tale signs of croup is the sound of a "barking" cough.
3. Pay attention to the noises a child makes as he falls asleep or sleeps at night. Often, croup will cause a toddler or small child to experience difficulty breathing, generally at night. The noise may sound like wheezing. Coughs seem to worsen at night as well.
4. As the condition progresses, be vigilant in watching a child you suspect may have croup. In some cases, a severe case of croup will cause a child's breathing to accelerate. A lack of adequate oxygen will create a bluish tinge around the lips. In such a case, take your child to your doctor or an emergency room immediately.
5. Listen to your child if she complains of a sore throat and refuses to eat or drink. A painful, red, raw throat is also a very common symptom of croup. Offer warm liquids, which are easier to swallow.
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