Croup

<B>Croup:</B> A respiratory problem that occurs mainly in children, particularly from 2 to 4 years of age, due to an infection of the respiratory tree -- the larynx (voice box), the trachea (windpipe), and the bronchial tubes.</P> The symptoms of croup include a cough that sounds like a barking seal and a harsh crowing sound when the child is inhaling.

A low-grade fever (around 100° to 101°) is common.

The child may become very frightened.

The major concern in croup is breathing difficulty as the air passages narrow.</P> Croup is most often caused by a virus, less often by a bacteria.</P> Treatment includes moist air, saline (salt water) nose drops, decongestants, cough suppressants, pain medication, fluids, and occasionally antibiotics.

Close monitoring of the breathing of a child with croup is valuable, especially at night when croup usually gets worse.</P> Croup may last up to a week.

Each night tends to be better than the last.

While most children recover from croup without hospitalization, some children can develop trouble breathing that is life-threatening.

Therefore, staying in close contact with the doctor during this illness is important.</P> The word 'croup' is one of the few in general use worldwide in medicine that came from Denmark.

It is from the Danish 'hropja' which sounds like a croupy child trying to get air in and out of the lungs.