The swelling of the tissue around the layers of the voice box or windpipe is called Croup. The croup results in a tight and barking cough. As the child's windpipe is narrow, it affects the breathing of the child. Though, older children and teenagers also suffer from it, the croup usually attacks infants or the children under the age of five.

Croup Cough, also called laryngotracheobronchitis is a common childhood viral illness. Like most viral illnesses, there is no cure for croup.

Although croup can be a lot more serious than the common cold it is caused by the same group of viruses called "human para-influenza viruses.

Children most prone to Croup lie in the age group of six months and three years. They are more prone to this viral infection during the late fall, winter and early spring. The common symptoms of Croup Cough are a runny nose and a brassy cough.

The barking cough is the result of a narrowing of your child's air passage. The effect of this is worsened by your child's crying. The harder they cry, the harder it is to breathe. If your child is crying, try to calm him or her down as quickly as possible.

Stages of Croup:

The first stage is the sudden onset of something that you probably don't know is croup, certainly not by the signs and symptoms, unless they are a recurring problem.

The second stage is when the resonant coughing starts.

The third stage occurs when the throat becomes unbearably painful.

If the croup has developed beyond that stage, a different medicine will be needed. The medicine Hepar sulpuris has a great sensitivity to pain. They complain endlessly. They are irritable. Symptoms may be worse at night. There will probably be a lot of yellow or yellow green mucous, usually described as suppurative.

First of all, you might notice cold like symptoms in your child, like a stuffy or runny nose and a fever. But if the upper airway (the lining of the windpipe and the voice box) becomes progressively inflamed and swollen, your child's voice might become hoarse, with a harsh, barking cough.

How can this croup cough be treated at home?

Make your child as comfortable as possible
Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest and drinks plenty of fluids
Increase the amount of liquids that he or she drinks
You can give acetaminophen (brand names: Children's Tylenol, Infants' Tylenol) for chest discomfort or discomfort due to fever

Treatment : Avoid a hot dry atmosphere by turning off the heating in the child's bedroom, but make sure the room is well ventilated. Use humidifiers if you have them.

Hydrotherapy Steam inhalation is a useful therapy.

Herbal Medicine Make an infusion from 1 teaspoonful each of coltsfoot and vervain. Give 1 teaspoonful to a child ,aged under three, and 1 tablespoonful to a child ages under three, and 1 tablespoonful to older children, every few hours.

Croup can be a scary illness. The sudden onset and breathing difficulties are alarming. A doctor can treat the illness effectively.

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