BARKING COUGH TREATMENT

There can be many causes of cough with hoarseness of voice in children but the most common cause in children being “Croup”. It is a condition that causes an inflammation of the upper airways ,the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It often leads to a barking cough or hoarseness.

CROUP CAUSES

Croup is mostly caused by viruses the most common organisms include Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),Para influenza virus and sometimes adeno virus. Para influenza virus being the most common.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms are more severe in children of 6 months to 3 years of age but can affect older kids as well. The children become more prone to it after getting an upper respiratory tract infection. The term spasmodic croup refers to a type of croup that develops quickly and may happen in a child with a mild cold. The barking cough usually begins at night and is not accompanied by fever. Spasmodic croup has a tendency to recur.

Initially a child may have symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose and a fever. As the upper airway becomes more inflamed and swollen, the child may develop hoarseness, with a harsh, barking cough. This loud cough, which is characteristic of croup, often sounds like the barking of a seal. Symptoms of croup are often worse at night and when children are upset or crying.

CROUP / BARKING COUGH TREATMENT OPTIONS

If a child’s croup is severe and is slow to respond to the treatment, a neck X-ray may be done to rule out any other reasons for the breathing difficulty, such as a foreign body lodged in the throat, a peritonsillar abscess , or epiglottitis (a inflammation of the epiglottis, the flap of tissue that covers the windpipe).

There are different treatment modalities in treating the croup. The most appropriate is supportive therapy that includes some humidification in the form of nebulization, some oral anti pyretic like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, steam inhalation and some sort of antibiotics to cover the super added bacterial infection.

ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TREATMENT

DO consult your doctor and ask for further management and opinion regarding your child ‘s illness.