It is a disease that causes difficulty in breathing and is often accompanied with severe cough. This is a common problem with infants and children. Here are the popular myths that are often linked with it.
Croup can be cured with steam
Croup refers to a type of cough that develops mostly in infants. There are several cures available for croup and giving your child a steamy shower features nowhere among them. So what can be the possible cures for croup? Well, to put it in the simplest of terms, if your child has a cold then make him or her breathe the outside air. In most children, the symptoms subside within a few hours. However, where the situation turns severe, be sure to consult a doctor right away. A barking cough, if not diagnosed early, can lead to a series of complications.
Frequent cough after diagnosis means that croup has relapsedThere is no reason to think that if the cough continues after diagnosis, then the condition has relapsed. In a majority of the cases, the cough hangs around for a while after the child is diagnosed with croup. The reasons for this are quite simple. The body is constantly trying to remove mucus from the air passage ways. The steroids, in turn, will help the airways remain open for about two weeks after the stoppage of medications. The best thing to do is allow the child to cough and get the mucus out. Give your child a cough suppressant for the best results. If the cough has not subsided in a week or two, then get in touch with a doctor.Adults cannot get croupAlthough croup cases in adults are rare, it should not be considered as something downright impossible. In China, for instance, a woman aged 81 years was diagnosed with a severe variant of croup nine years ago. The symptoms of croup are similar in both children and adults. In the first place, the upper respiratory tract gets infected. As a result of this, the patient experiences shortness of breath, fever and severe coughing. However, in adult patients the incidence of fever is found to be comparatively lower. Moreover, when croup affects adults, it prompts them to make use of artificial airways. In case you are facing similar problems, here’s a note of reassurance: croup among adults is so rare that in most cases the symptoms are regarded sub clinical.Croup is a common problem and does not become severeThere is no evidence to suggest that croup cannot become severe. In fact, whether croup is severe or not depends on the child’s ability to pull air into his lungs. So what are the exact determinants of croup’s severity? The size or diameter of the windpipe and the magnitude of narrowing are some of the most important determinants. Additionally, croup tends to get severe when the child is upset or agitated. A child suffering from severe croup experiences retractions and stridor. Retraction refers to the inward movements of breast bones as the kid gasps for breath. In certain cases, the child may even appear fatigued, agitated and anxious. The skin begins to don a blue tinge as the child cries or moves about. The condition worsens progressively.Barking cough means the child has croupIf your child has been coughing away madly in barking tones for the past few days, don’t go making presumptions without consulting a doctor first. A barking cough is caused by several other factors apart from viral infections like croup. These include choking or breathing in an alien object, diphtheria or epiglottitis. The latter refers to the cartilage flap covering the wind pipe. It prevents food particles from entering the lungs and bronchi. In certain cases, a child affected by common cold ends up with barking cough. Additionally, the term barking cough may also be used to describe whooping cough. In such cases, the barking cough will also be accompanied by a whooping sound. Hence, croup or no croup, if there is a barking sound accompanying the cough, it would be advisable to consult a doctor right away.You can try vaccination to cure croupCroup vaccination is nothing but a piece of mythical story that has no basis in fact. The reality is that currently there are no vaccines available to prevent infections or diseases caused by the HPIVs. However, on a brighter note, it should be remembered that the medical community is trying to develop croup vaccines. For those who believe that prevention is better than cure, let us suggest some preventive measures that promise to keep the disease away. In the first place, start by paying attention to infection control strategies. Make your kid wash his hands every time he returns from an outdoor trip. Last but not the least, never even think of sharing items like glasses, cups or utensils.Croup can be treated through antibioticsSince croup results from severe viral infections, there is no way you can treat it using antibiotics. In severe cases, the patient affected by croup is even admitted to the hospital where he or she is given adrenaline, oxygen and corticosteroids. However, croup can be treated through home remedies as well. Substituting water with juice, taking the child out for walks are a few among them. The medical treatment procedure primarily concentrates on detecting the severity of croup. Steroid therapy is the most preferred choice among doctors. It has been found to benefit children with moderate or severe croup. Normally, antibiotics have no role whatsoever to play in the treatment of croup.
