Croup, an infection that causes swelling of the voice box and windpipe, most commonly affects children between 3 months and 5 years of age. Croup can occur at any time of the year, but is most common in the fall and winter months.
Types of Croup
Viral Croup
Viral croup, the most common type of croup, is caused by a viral infection of the voice box and windpipe. Often starts like a cold, but then it slowly turns into a bark-like cough. Most children will develop a low-grade fever as well.
Spasmodic Croup
Thought to be caused by an allergy or reflux from the stomach, it can come on quite suddenly and be very scary for the parents. Your child may to bed just fine and wake up a few hours later gasping for breath. Most children with spasmodic croup do not have a fever.
Croup with Stridor
Stridor, a high vibrating noise, is common with mild croup, but if your child has stridor while resting it can be sign of more severe croup. The danger of croup with stridor is that sometimes the airway may swell, causing your child to have difficulty breathing. If this happens, you’ll need to take them to Pediatric Urgent Care (LINK: https://mysickkid.com/), your pediatrician’s office, or the emergency room.
Treatment for Croup
If your child wakes up in the middle of the night with croup try to keep them calm and help them cope by giving them a back rub, singing them songs, and having them snuggle with a favorite toy. If they develop stridor, seem to be struggling to catch their breath, drools or has excessive saliva, or has bluish lips or fingernails it’s time to take them to Pediatric Urgent Care or their pediatrician’s office.
AllKids Pediatric Urgent Care and the Croup
It can be scary any time your child is sick, but rest assured that AllKids Urgent Care is here to help guide you every step of the way with a caring and knowledgeable pediatric staff. Both our pediatric urgent care clinics are open every day, from noon to 10 p.m. No appointment is necessary, just stop in and start your child on the road back to health.
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