Many parents get very anxious when their child develops croup. Thought I write few tips to help here;
- Most importantly is to reassure the child, they are usually frightened because of their strange sounding cough and harsh noisy breathing. Crying can worsen their airway narrowing and make the symptoms worse.
- Take your child to your pediatrician. Your pediatrician may prescribe a medicine (Dexamethasone) which can help relieve the symptoms and the upper airway narrowing. This medicine is usually given in one single dose (orally or intramuscularly if your child refusing to take orally).
- Croup is expected to get worse at night time between 10 PM and 4 AM. Get ready for this.
- Make sure you manage their fever the right way.
- Ensure adequate fluid intake.
- If your child is more than one year old, giving her/him honey can help soothe the throat and reduce their coughing.
- When the symptoms get worse try the following:
- Take your child to the bathroom and let her/him inhale the steaming hot shower, this will help relax the airways.
- After the steaming shower inhalation, you can take your child to the backyard and let her/him inhale cold air (they are still covered with clothes and layers of course, we just want to have them inhale cold air).
- Try cool mist humidifier by the side of their bed.
- Lowering the temperature at home can help. They can still be covered with layers, but it’s important not to breathe hot air. Hot dry air coming from your home heater will worsen symptoms at night time.
- What red flags to watch for? if any of the following take your child to the hospital/doctor as soon as possible:
- Change color of the skin, such as bluish discoloration of the face.
- Severe non-stop persistent coughing episodes.
- Symptoms lasting more than 4 day.
- Drooling
- Inability to eat/drink (difficulty swallowing).
- Extreme fatigue.
- Your child sounding like a braying donkey all the time even when they are at rest and not crying/coughing.