Is an infection of the throat (larynx) and windpipe (trachea) that is caused by a virus (Also called laryngotracheobronchitis).
A common disease of childhood characterized by spasms of the larynx which interferes with respiration.
Acute infection of the upper respiratory passages which blocks the larynx, affecting children.
Disease of infants and young children, characterized by harsh coughing, hoarseness, fever, and difficulty in breathing, usually due to viral infection. Mild cases can be relieved by the use of vaporizers, humidifiers, or steam from hot running water (to relieve spasm of muscles in the larynx), but children with high fever or severe respiratory distress should be hospitalized.
Laryngotracheobronchitis in infants and young children caused by bacterial or viral infection of the pharynx in children, characterized by difficult and noisy respiration and a hoarse cough.
An inflammation of the voice box and windpipe that narrows the airway just below the vocal cords, resulting in difficult and noisy breathing. Croup is a common illness in young children, especially those aged 6 months to 3 years. After the age of 3, the windpipe is more developed and swelling is less likely to interfere with breathing. Croup occurs most frequently between October and March.
Inflammation and obstruction of the larynx in young children (usually aged between six months and two years). In the past diphtheria was the most common cause, but now croup generally results from a viral infection of the respiratory tract. The symptoms are those of ‘laryngitis, accompanied by signs of obstruction: harsh difficult breathing, a rising pulse rate, restlessness, and cyanosis. Treatment by humidification and mild sedation usually reverses the alarming symptoms. In severe cases the obstruction may require treatment by tracheostomy or nasotracheal intubation.
Also known as laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis, croup is a household term for a group of diseases characterised by swelling and partial blockage of the entrance to the larynx, occurring in children and characterised by crowing inspiration. There are various causes but by far the commonest is acute laryngo-tracheobronchitis. Croup tends to occur in epidemics, particularly in autumn and early spring, and is almost exclusively viral in origin — commonly due to parainfluenzal or other respiratory viruses. It is nearly always mild and sufferers recover spontaneously; however, it can be dangerous, particularly in young children and infants, in whom the relatively small laryngeal airway may easily be blocked, leading to suffocation.
An acute viral disease of early childhood, usually occurring from age 6 months to 5 years (and more in males than in females), marked by a resonant barking cough (described as sounding “seal-like”), stridor, and varying degrees of respiratory distress. Inflammation and spasm of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi account for most of the symptoms; thus croup is also known as laryngotracheobronchitis.
Amongst the frequently encountered conditions affecting infants and young children, there exists a prevalent disorder characterized by the constriction and inflammation of the respiratory passages. This ailment manifests in the form of hoarseness, stridor (a distinct grunting sound produced during breathing), and a cough reminiscent of a bark.
Croup can arise from the invasion of the larynx, epiglottis, or trachea by either viral or bacterial pathogens. The majority of instances stem from viral infections and typically manifest in a mild form. Additional factors contributing to croup include diphtheria, allergic reactions, spasms triggered by low levels of calcium in the bloodstream, as well as inhalation of foreign objects.
Enhancing air moisture can provide relief and facilitate respiration. In certain instances, medical professionals may prescribe the use of corticosteroid medications via a nebulizer, along with supplemental oxygen. When the infection is of bacterial origin, treatment typically involves the administration of antibiotic drugs.
A condition met with in children, characterized by a harsh, brassy cough and a crowing noise accompanied by difficult respiration; occasionally the coughing sounds somewhat like the barking of a dog. It is due to a paralysis of the vocal cords brought about by inflammation that may be caused by nothing more serious than a cold in the throat. It is occasionally the result of laryngeal diphtheria, and in these cases the diphtheria membrane can be seen lining the throat, the neck glands are swollen, and the child is gravely ill. The “cold in the throat” variety rapidly responds to inhalations of steam medicated with half a teaspoonful of friars balsam or eau de Cologne. The child should place its mouth above the jug and breathe the steam in and out. This treatment, which can be repeated every one or two hours, usually effects relief within 24 hours. In preparing inhalations only hot, not boiling, water should be used, and an adult should hold the jug firmly so that it cannot be spilt and scald the child.