How to treat Croup Cough

Given the symptoms involved in croup, an infection from it can scare both parents and children alike. This is why the first step in the treatment should be comforting the child. The child should be kept under close monitoring at the onset of illness because of the fact that there's always the possibility of difficulties in breathing developing and worsening at a rapid rate.

Usually, a humidifier or a mist vaporizer (cold or warm) may be employed to help the child breathe easily. In case of toddlers or infants, make sure that the vaporizers are well out of reach to prevent any accidental burning. An effective alternative is to have the child breathe in a steamed up environment like a bathroom with steam from a hot shower or from hot water in the tub. About 10 to 15 minutes outside in a cool night is helpful towards the child's breathing if stridor or cough tends to get worse during the night.

It should be noted that in the case of infants and children, blocked nasal passages because of mucus can worsen breathing. Instil a few drops of saltwater into the nose with a frequency of about once every few hours and follow it up with gentle suction by employing an ear bulb syringe - this helps open the nasal passages.

While one could use decongestants and cough suppressants to relieve congestion and the hacking cough, the American Academy of Paediatrics directs against the use of most combinations of medicines for cold and cough - especially so if they happen to contain dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine (or Benadryl). Several studies conducted have shown time and again that such medicines are not effective with children. In addition, they may have side effects which develop into more serious symptoms. So consult your physician before giving the child any over-the-counter medicine for cold.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can also be used for relieving pain and fever. Aspirin is still under suspicion over its link to Reye's syndrome in children who are recovering from influenza and is therefore avoided in the treatment of croup caused by influenza virus. Reye's syndrome may be defined as a rather mysterious but serious illness which causes liver, kidney and brain damage and may even lead to coma. Very occasionally, cortisone medications may be prescribed if very severe croup cases are encountered. Since croup is mostly caused by viruses, antibiotics are used for those rare cases when croup is caused by bacterial infections or when superimposition of bacteria on the viral illness takes place.

There isn't the need for forceful fluid consumption even though fluid consumption is encouraged to prevent dehydration. A common and popular method of providing fluids is through popsicles. It's advisable to restrict activity to quiet playing for the initial few days of the illness.

The first few days that children are infected with croup - they are the most contagious. There's a possibility of other children in the family developing a condition of cough or sore throat - they may not have developed croupy cough or stridor seen in croup necessarily. While a cough lingers on for another two weeks, children can go back to school once the temperature drops and they feel normal.