Croup

Croup is a widespread inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by fever, symptoms of intoxication and respiratory failure, as well as cough. The name comes from the loud, hoarse, rough cough that resembles the croaking of a crow or the hoarse noise of a valve.

The disease is characterized by painful inflammatory processes in the larynx and pharynx, which can lead to serious complications such as acute laryngitis, tracheitis and pneumonia. The most common cause of croup is a viral infection, although bacterial infections can also be to blame. Airway obstruction can occur at different levels of the bronchi and ends in impaired ventilation. In addition, croup can lead to bronchiolar asthmatic syndrome and even shock.

Along with typical clinical manifestations, there are a number of symptoms that should cause concern and give rise to suspicion of the course of the disease. This is a sharp attack of coughing, noisy breathing, stridor without exhalation for a long time and difficulty in inhaling due to narrowing of the laryngopharynx. Typically accompanied by rapid and severe dehydration of the patient, increased sweating and pale skin, often accompanied by cold extremities. The child may also experience high fever, tachycardia, and dry mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. The sudden occurrence of such symptoms should be a reason to immediately consult a doctor, since delay is fraught with the development of possible complications.

Currently, there are several effective methods of treating the disease that can quickly alleviate the patient’s condition and prevent possible complications. One of the main methods of treatment is to create a favorable atmosphere in the room, cool, humidified air and drink plenty of fluids, which will reduce irritation of the mucous membranes and swelling of the tissues. Various drugs are also used to reduce swelling of the larynx, inhibit aggressive infectious agents and lower the temperature. A common method of treating croup is inhalation, which creates a special environment based on saline solution that can be used to remove phlegm and dissolve mucus. For this purpose, steam inhalation of medicines and inhalation with humidified air are practiced. In more complex cases, an ambulance is called, which will monitor cardiac and respiratory activity, after which hospitalization, anesthesia and adequate treatment under the supervision of experienced specialists will be offered. It is important to remember that in case of croup, you should never give your child antibiotics without consulting a doctor.