For young kids, colds and coughs are a fairly iconic duo, with the former typically giving way to the latter. But on occasion, a cough that succeeds a virus just doesn’t sound right to parents and caregivers. A likely cause? Croup. <\/p>
“Croup is a viral attack on the airway below the vocal cords that results in inflammation, and in turn, a gasping-, barking-type of cough,” explains Dr. Kenneth Polin<\/a>, a pediatrician at Lurie Children’s Primary Care, Town & Country Pediatrics in Skokie, Illinois. “Since children’s airways are smaller, they’re more susceptible to it.”<\/p> “Croup is a viral attack on the airway below the vocal cords that results in inflammation, and in turn, a gasping-, barking-type of cough.”<\/p>—Dr. Kenneth Polin, pediatrician<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> While the croup cough sound can be unnerving, it generally isn’t cause for alarm. Here’s what parents and caregivers should know about croup, including how to recognize the signs and how to treat it. <\/p> According to Dr. Arethusa Kirk, national senior medical director for UnitedHealthcare, croup is a condition that causes a young child’s voice box and windpipe to swell. “That swelling can make breathing noisy and difficult,” she notes, adding that croup is “most common in children between 3 months and 5 years of age.” <\/p> Croup is “most common in children between 3 months and 5 years of age.”<\/p>—Dr. Arethusa Kirk, national senior medical director <\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> “After 8 years old, croup is much less common because at this age, children’s airways are bigger and inflammation doesn’t block the airway as much,” Kirk continues, noting that, although croup can occur at any time of the year, it’s most common in the fall and winter months.<\/p> Typically, croup is caused by a viral infection, explains Polin, with the culprit most often being one of the following:<\/p> Kirk notes that croup can also be caused by allergies<\/a> — referred to as spasmodic croup — but it’s less common. The symptoms of spasmodic croup<\/a> are similar to croup caused by an infection, but it generally comes on suddenly and isn’t accompanied by a fever. “The cough from viral croup often is associated with a temperature greater than 100.4,” she says.<\/p> The croup cough sound is hard to miss. Unlike wet, phlegmy coughs that accompany many colds, croup cough is often characterized as “tight, low and barky — almost like a barking seal,” Kirk says, adding that, in addition to the cough, the child’s voice or cry will be hoarse. <\/p> Croup cough is often characterized as “tight, low and barky — almost like a barking seal.”<\/p>—Dr. Kenneth Polin, pediatrician<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> “In more serious cases of croup, children may experience stridor, which is a noisy, harsh, high-pitched breathing sound,” says Kirk. If a child develops stridor as a result of croup (especially if it’s present when the child is resting, as opposed to crying), the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> (AAP) recommends contacting their healthcare provider. In some cases of croup with stridor, the airway can become so swollen that it may be difficult to breathe. <\/p> Croup usually worsens at night, specifically on the second or third night of the illness, because the body’s natural steroid levels typically decline at night, says Kirk. <\/p> “This can lead to increased inflammation, and the voice box swells further,” she explains. <\/p>What is croup?<\/strong><\/h2>
What is croup caused by?<\/strong><\/h2>
What does croup sound like?<\/strong><\/h2>
Why is croup worse at night?<\/strong><\/h2>
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