Technical Names: laryngotracheobronchitis

NickNames: croup, barking seal cough

What is it: infection of our trachea – the main tube in our throat

Typical Ages for Illness: infants and toddler most usually but occasionally younger elementary school children.

Typical Symptoms:barky, seal-like cough often worse at night; +/- fever; +/- trouble breathing. Often starts as a bad cold then suddenly worsens.

Etiology: most commonly parainfluenza virus types 1 and 2, but many winter/flu season viruses possible culprits including influenza, adenovirus and RSV.

Seasonal Issues: usually winter illness, sporadic cases during other seasons

How’s It Spread? person to person by respiratory droplets – i.e. getting coughed or sneezed on, or fomites – touching droplets on an object.

Incubation Period? 2 to 6 days

Symptom Duration: there is usually a few days of a early, cold like symptoms, then 1-3 days of the barky cough which tends to get worse over the first couple of nights before improving.

Treatment:

• cool steam, air – take child outside on front stoop if really barking
• possible steroids if cough is severe
• try taking the child into the bathroom with the shower running for steam

Call Your Pediatrician If:

• trouble breathing: fast rate, skin between abdomen or ribs sinking in
• stridor: tight, squeaky sound
• looking sick
• high fever
• drooling
• inability to talk a complete sentence

Prevention:

• good hand washing
• having the child cover his or her mouth when coughing, if possible
• cleaning toys and objects likely contaminated by respiratory droplets

School and After school Activity Issues

• may return to school when fever free for 24hours
• avoid large groups of kids if cough is not controlled to prevent further spread

Internet Resources for Parents

Kids Health Information on Croup

WebMD Information on Croup

Related posts:

1. Bug of the Month: Pneumonia Technical Names: Pneumonitis NickNames: Pneumonia, Lung Infection What it is:...
2. Bug of the Month: RSV Infection or Bronchiolitis Technical Names: RSV Bronchiolitis NickNames: RSV, wheezing virus What it...
3. Bug of the Month: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) The Update: Pertussis out breaks(i.e. whooping cough) have been occuring...
4. Bug Of The Month: Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19) Technical Name: Parvovirus B19 OtherNames: Erythema Infectiosum (EI) 5TH Disease...
5. Bug of the Month: Swine Flu (Influenza H1N1 Virus) Swine Flu is Influenza H1N1. This virus is very, very...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.