Investigations
No investigations are necessary. Croup is a clinical diagnosis.
Treatment
The majority of children with croup do not need any specific treatment. You can manage the symptoms in exactly the same way as for a cold. Antibiotics are not necessary because the condition is caused by a virus. Some children seem to benefit from steam, and you may want to take the child into the bathroom with a hot water tap running in the shower. Be very careful to avoid scalding the child if you decide to try this treatment. There is little information available to suggest it makes any significant difference.
A small minority of children with croup will need admission to hospital for observation, to ensure that the breathing tube does not become blocked to the point where they are unable to breathe.
• if your child has difficulty breathing;
• if the stridor is easily heard even when he is resting quietly;
• if you are worried.
Prevention
There is no way we can prevent children from getting croup.
*222\90\8*
No comments yet.