children s health issues
Croup
Treatment of Croup
For mild illness, fluids and humidified air For severe illness, hospitalization, oxygen,epinephrine, and corticosteroids If a child develops a croupy breathing pattern, the parents should contact the doctor because children with croup can become very ill very quickly. Mildly ill children may be cared for at home and usually recover in 3 to 4 days. The child should be made comfortable, given plenty of fluids, and allowed to rest because fatigue and crying can worsen the condition. Home humidifying devices (for example, cool-mist vaporizers or humidifiers) may reduce drying of the upper airways and ease breathing. The humidity can be raised quickly by running a hot shower to steam up the bathroom. Carrying the child outside to breathe cold night air or to the kitchen to breathe cold air from the freezer also may open the airways. Although these remedies are harmless, there is little scientific evidence that they make any difference in how children feel. Breathing humidified air in a steamy bathroom or cool air from the freezer may help lessen croup symptoms. For sicker children, the doctor may recommend a single dose of a corticosteroid to prevent worsening of symptoms. Children with worsening symptoms should be seen immediately by a doctor who will likely recommend corticosteroids and may hospitalize the child for observation and care. Children who have increasing or continuing difficulty in breathing, rapid heart rate, fatigue, dehydration, or bluish skin discoloration need to be given oxygen, as well as fluids by vein. Doctors usually treat children withepinephrinegiven in a nebulizer and corticosteroids given by mouth or injection. These drugs help shrink swollen tissue in the airways. Children who improve with these treatments may be sent home, but children who are very ill should remain in the hospital. Antibiotics are used only in the rare situation when a child with croup also develops a bacterial infection. Rarely, a Mechanical Ventilation (a breathing machine that helps air get in and out of the lungs) is needed. 