🧒 Croup
Croup is a common viral infection in young children that causes inflammation of the upper airway, particularly the larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), and bronchi. It leads to a barking cough, hoarseness, and stridor (a high-pitched breathing sound).
🧬 Cause:
- Most often caused by viruses, especially:
- Parainfluenza virus (most common)
- Others: RSV, adenovirus, influenza, rhinovirus
📅 Who Gets It?
- Most common in children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Can occur year-round but more frequent in fall and winter
🩺 Symptoms:
- Barking “seal-like” cough
- Hoarseness
- Stridor (high-pitched noise when breathing in)
- Fever (usually mild)
- Runny nose or cold symptoms before cough starts
- Worsening symptoms at night
- Respiratory distress in severe cases (fast breathing, chest retractions, cyanosis)
🔍 Diagnosis:
- Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and age
- Neck X-ray (not always needed) may show the classic “steeple sign” (narrowed upper airway)
📉 Severity Classification:
- Mild: Barky cough, no stridor at rest
- Moderate: Stridor at rest, mild retractions
- Severe: Stridor at rest, marked retractions, agitation, fatigue
- Impending respiratory failure: Lethargy, cyanosis, decreased breath sounds
💊 Treatment:
🏠 Mild Cases (most common):
- Humidified air or steam
- Keep the child calm (crying worsens symptoms)
- Fluids and rest
🏥 Moderate to Severe Cases:
- Oral or IM corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) – reduces airway swelling
- Nebulized epinephrine – for immediate relief in moderate/severe cases
- Oxygen if needed
- Hospitalization if symptoms are severe or worsening