Complications
Risk factors. Most at risk of getting croup are children between 6 months and 3 years of age. The peak incidence of the condition is around 24 months of age.
Symptoms
Croup is most commonly seen in children 3 months old to 5 years. The peak time for croup to occur is 2 years old. Croup is seen more often in the winter. Symptoms of croup are not always the same.
Causes
Most cases of croup are mild. In a small percentage of children, the airway swells enough to interfere with breathing. Rarely, a secondary bacterial infection of the trachea can occur, resulting in trouble breathing and requiring emergency medical care. Only a small number of children seen in the emergency room for croup require hospitalization.
Prevention
To prevent croup, take the same steps you use to prevent colds and flu. 1 Frequent hand-washing is the most important. 2 Keep your child away from anyone who's sick. 3 Encourage your child to cough or sneeze into his or her elbow.
What are the risk factors for croup?
What is the most common age to get croup?
Does croup always require hospitalization?
How to prevent croup in children?
What is the most likely cause of croup?
Croup is most commonly caused by a virus. It is sometimes, but rarely, caused by bacteria, allergies, or reflux from the stomach....Viruses that are known to cause croup are:Parainfluenza virus.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)Influenza virus.Adenovirus.Enteroviruses.
Why are some kids more susceptible to croup?
Sometimes recurrent croup signals an abnormality in the throat or airway, either that the child was born with (congenital) or due to an injury. Potential anatomic abnormalities include: Subglottic stenosis: a narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords and above the trachea.
Can adults get croup from taking care of a child?
Croup is a condition that tends to only affect children. Most cases are caused by a virus. While a child can pass the virus to an adult, the virus usually does not affect adults the same way that it does children.
Can parents get croup from child?
Croup is considered a childhood illness. Adults can easily catch the same viruses that cause croup in children. But because adults have bigger airways, adults don't get the barking cough and stridor that characterizes croup in children.
How do you prevent croup?
Croup is spread in a similar way to the common cold, so it is difficult to prevent. Good hygiene is the main defence against croup, such as regularly washing hands and cleaning surfaces. A number of your child's routine vaccinations also protect against some of the infections that can cause croup.
What is the best thing to do for croup?
Use a cool-mist humidifier or run a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Breathing in the mist will sometimes stop the severe coughing. In cooler weather, taking your child outside for a few minutes to breathe in the cool air may ease symptoms.
Is croup contagious if no fever?
Contagiousness — Croup is caused by viruses that can be spread easily through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory secretions (mucus and droplets from coughing or sneezing). Children with croup should be considered contagious for three days after the illness begins or until the fever is gone.
Can kids go to school with croup?
If your child has a cold but no fever, he can attend school. Likewise with mild croup, as long as he feels well enough to participate at school and has no difficulty breathing. Keep him home! If cold symptoms worsen after five days or a cough lasts longer than 10, head to the doctor.
How long does it take to get croup after exposure?
It may take up to 10 days after exposure for early symptoms to develop and several days later for the cough to occur. From shortly before symptoms begin and for as long as the acute symptoms last.
Does croup come on suddenly?
It can be scary because it comes on suddenly, often in the middle of the night. Your child may go to bed well and wake up in a few hours, gasping for breath. They will be hoarse and have stridor when they breathe in. They may also have a barky cough.
Is croup the same as whooping cough?
Croup is caused by a virus. There's no vaccine against croup. This condition usually resolves at home, in less than 10 days. Whooping cough is caused by a bacterial infection.
What day does croup peak?
Croup symptoms generally peak 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of the viral infection begin and typically last 3 to 7 days. Symptoms are worse at night and when the child is excited, exercising or crying.
Is it normal to get croup often?
Viral Croup is does not usually occur more than once (or twice) in a year in a otherwise healthy child. Croup like symptoms that occur more frequently (>2 a year) have been called “Recurrent Croup.” Essentially, recurrent croup is not due to a viral etiology and should be considered a RED FLAG for another condition.
Does croup run in families?
It tends to run in families, and may be triggered by an allergic reaction. Spasmodic croup tends to come on suddenly, without fever. Sometimes it can be hard to tell spasmodic croup from infectious croup. Infectious croup is most common in children younger than age six.
How many times can a child get croup?
Croup occurs most often during the fall and winter seasons, but it can occur year round. It usually affects children 3 months to 5 years of age. Croup is contagious (can be spread to others). A child can get croup more than once.
Is croup inherited?
Family history of croup was the most significant risk factor for both croup itself and recurrent croup. In multivariable analysis the odds ratio (OR) for the parents having a history of croup was 3.2 (95% CI 1.5, 7.1, P < 0.01) and 4.1 (95% CI 1.4, 11.7, P < 0.01) for recurrent croup.
How many cases of croup in 2017?
However, some adults may develop more severe breathing symptoms and require hospitalization. Again, this is very rare. As of 2017, there were only 15 reported cases of adult croup in medical literature, though the true incidence is not known. Read more about croup in adults.
What causes croup?
Croup is most often caused by a viral infection, typically by a type of virus called a parainfluenza virus. Other viruses that can cause it include: In rare rare cases, a bacteria can cause croup. This type of croup is often more severe than viral types.
How long is croup contagious?
A person with croup is usually contagious for about three days after symptoms start or until their fever disappears. If your child has croup, it’s best to keep them home from school or other environments with lots of children for at least three days. You should also keep them home as long as they have any kind of fever.
How long does croup last?
runny or stuffy nose. The symptoms of croup are often worse in the evening or when a child is anxious or crying. They usually last for three to five days, though a mild cough may linger for up to a week. Croup is contagious.
What is croup in children?
Croup is an infection that affects the upper portion of the airway, including the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe). It’s common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. It tends to occur in the fall months. Common symptoms of croup include:
How long can you keep croup at home?
However, croup can spread easily between children, so it’s best to keep them at home for at least three days or until they no longer have a fever. Last medically reviewed on August 22, 2018. Parenthood.
What to do if someone has croup?
If someone around you has croup, try to limit your interaction with them until they’ve recovered. If you or your child already has croup, it’s still a good idea to frequently wash your hands to avoid spreading it to others. It’s also helpful to cough or sneeze into a tissue.
What causes croup?
Croup is most commonly caused by a virus. It is sometimes, but rarely, caused by bacteria, allergies, or reflux from the stomach. Viruses that are known to cause croup are:
What is croup?
Croup is a disease that causes swelling in the airways and problems breathing. Children with croup often have a high-pitched “creaking” or whistling sound when breathing in. This is called stridor.
How do you know if you have croup?
What are the symptoms of croup. Symptoms of croup are not always the same. As the disease moves from the nose to the lungs, the symptoms can change. Common symptoms of croup are: Symptoms are often worse at night and wake the child from sleep. Symptoms also seem to improve in the morning but worsen as the day goes on.
How long does it take for croup to go away?
Symptoms also seem to improve in the morning but worsen as the day goes on. Most children improve in three to seven days. The symptoms of croup can be mistaken for other conditions and medical problems. Always see your child's provider for a diagnosis.
Can croup cause a child to not breathe?
In severe cases of croup, or if your child is not breathing well, your child may need to go to the hospital. This is sometimes hard to tell because the disease changes. Your child may seem better at one moment, and then get worse the next.
Why is my child at risk for croup?
Your child may also be at risk of developing a more severe case of croup if they have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues.
How common is croup in children?
Around 3 percent of children in this age group (6 months to 3 years) will experience croup at one time or another. It’s somewhat common, so it’s a good idea to become familiar with the symptoms and potential complications.
What is croup in babies?
Croup is an infection of the upper airway. Most cases are mild — but croup can turn serious, especially in younger kids and babies. You may notice that your little one is having difficulty breathing or is making a strange whistling noise when breathing in. This is called stridor, and it can happen with serious cases of croup.
How to treat croup in kids?
Treatment for severe croup. Mild cases of croup can be treated with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain and fever medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen). Only a small percentage of kids will develop severe cases. When croup is more serious, your doctor may first prescribe steroids to help with the swelling in your child’s airway.
Why does my child cough when he is crouping?
As time goes on, your child’s cough may get louder and sound like a barking seal. Again, this is due to the inflammation of the voice box, windpipe, and upper airways. Persistent coughing continues to irritate these tissues.
How to tell if you have croup?
retractions (when the skin between the ribs sucks inward while breathing) discoloration around the mouth (pale/blue) trouble swallowing. stridor or high-pitched noise when taking breaths. Dehydration is another danger that may go along with croup.
Why do kids get croup?
Croup is usually caused by a virus, specifically parainfluenza viruses. For this reason, it’s classified as infectious croup. However, many kids who are exposed to viruses that cause croup will only develop cold symptoms.
How old do you have to be to get croup?
Croup generally only affects children between about three months to six years old, depending on the type. Most infants will not contract croup before three months old, and children over six years old typically do not get croup. This is because their windpipes have expanded over time.
What causes croup in children?
Additionally, croup can be caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV tends to cause infections in the respiratory system for infants and children. The more severe the infection, the more noticeably distressed the child's breathing will become.
Why do kids get croup?
One of the most common causes of croup is the presence of a viral infection. Influenza or parainfluenza virus is one of the usual suspects in this case. Most of the time, children get these types of viruses without actually developing croup. Of course, influenza viruses can be serious in children of all ages, and the sooner the virus is treated, the less likely a child will develop croup as a result of influenza.
What is a croup that is not caused by a fever?
There is another type of croup that can be activated by an infection while not being caused by one. This is known as spasmodic croup, and it can be quite similar to the infection-based forms of croup since they share many symptoms, such as a barking cough. However, the spasmodic infection sets in suddenly, presenting without a fever. It can be caused by an allergic reaction and most commonly occurs in children who range between three months and three years old. Infectious crop, on the other hand, more frequently presents itself in children up to six years old.
How old is too old to have spasmodic infection?
However, the spasmodic infection sets in suddenly, presenting without a fever. It can be caused by an allergic reaction and most commonly occurs in children who range between three months and three years old. Infectious crop, on the other hand, more frequently presents itself in children up to six years old.
When does croup occur?
Although the various forms of croup can occur during any time of the year, croup cases crop up the most frequently between October and March. It is during these cooler months that many children become ill with influenza and parainfluenza viruses, especially if they are in a contained location where they can pass it around, such as a daycare center or school. These viruses flourish during the cooler seasons but, when they do occur in warmer seasons, they tend to be milder throughout the rest of the year. Seasonal allergies also occur during these months and can cause croup to manifest. It is generally recommended to practice good hygiene with extra diligence during the cooler months, especially with children, as this can help prevent croup.
Can a teenager get croup?
It is incredibly rare for croup to occur in teens or adults, but there are occasional cases of this happening. Older children, teens, and adults can develop sore throats and coughs after coming into contact with a child who has croup.
How serious is croup?
Most cases of croup are mild and may just require parental guidance and reassurance. Mild symptoms include occasional barking cough, hoarseness, and stridor only when the child is active or agitated.
Why is croup so common in children?
Younger children are more affected by croup because their airways are smaller. A small amount of swelling in a narrow airway can make it hard to breathe, compared to a small amount of swelling in a wider airway, which may be only a minor irritation with no breathing problems. Croup is most commonly seen in:
What is croup?
Croup is a common childhood illness that causes swelling in the upper airway. This can cause a change in voice and characteristic “croupy” cough that sounds like a seal or bark. There are a number of viruses that have been found to cause croup, the most common being parainfluenza virus.
When does croup require emergency care?
Hughes says the majority of children who come to CHOP’s Emergency Department (ED) with croup are able to be discharged home after some medication and possibly an observation period. Frequently, by the time a family arrives at the ED, the swelling in the child’s lungs has lessened and their breathing issues have largely resolved due to their exposure to the cool outside air while en route to the hospital. These children are typically given a single oral dose of steroids to help the swelling in their throat go down and improve symptoms until the illness passes in a few days.
What does croup sound like?
This can cause a change in voice and characteristic “croupy” cough that sounds like a seal or bark. There are a number of viruses that have been found to cause croup, the most common being parainfluenza virus. The infection can be associated with nasal congestion, cough, sore throat and fever. Upper airway swelling can cause children ...
Do children with croup need epinephrine?
However, Dr. Hughes stresses that some children with severe croup do need medical treatment to improve their breathing. It is important to have them evaluated promptly at the Emergency Department. They may need a breathing treatment (racemic epinephrine) to calm their breathing and a period of observation to ensure symptoms do not recur. ...
Can croup cause a cough?
Mild symptoms include occasional barking cough, hoarseness, and stridor only when the child is active or agitated. Symptoms are often worse at night and can wake the child from sleep. Harsh cough and breathing issues with croup can sometimes be turned around with simple measures at home like cool air from an open window, ...
How common is croup in children?
Annually in the United States, croup accounts for 7% of hospitalizations in children younger than five years of age.[1] Croup affects about 3% of children per year, typically between the ages of 6 months and three years.[2] Parainfluenza virus accounts for more than 75% of croup infections. It is more common in boys than girls with a 1.5:1 ratio. Approximately 85% of cases are defined as mild croup, and less than 1% are considered severe croup.
How rare is croup?
More than 85% of children present with mild disease; severe croup is rare (less than 1%).
What is croup in children?
Croup is a common respiratory illness of the trachea, larynx, and bronchi that can lead to inspiratory stridor and barking cough. It is a self-limited disease that is seen in children under the age of 5. Laryngotracheitis, laryngotracheobronchitis, and laryngotracheobronchopneumonitis are all included in the spectrum of croup. Uncommon complications may include bacterial tracheitis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and rarely, death. This activity reviews the evaluation and management of croup and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in improving care for patients with this condition.
What is croup in the lungs?
Croup is a common respiratory illness of the trachea, larynx, and bronchi that can lead to inspiratory stridor and barking cough. The parainfluenza virus typically causes croup, but a bacterial infection can also cause it. Croup is primarily a clinical diagnosis. Potentially life-threatening conditions such as epiglottitis or a foreign body in the airway must be ruled out first. Corticosteroids should be administered to all patients with croup, and epinephrine is reserved in those with moderate to severe croup.
What causes spasmodic croup?
Spasmodic croup is caused by viruses that also cause acute laryngotracheitis, but lack signs of infection.
Can a viral culture cause agitation?
Blood tests and viral culture are advised against, as they may cause unnecessary agitation and lead to further airway swelling and obstruction.
Does Heliox help with Croup?
Little evidence supports the routine use of heliox in the treatment of croup.
