How Croup Is Contagious Essay

Croup In this short essay I will be describing a condition called “Croup“. Croup is also known as Larngotracheobronchitis which is an upper airway infection that blocks breathing and has a distinctive barking cough. I will be explaining on whether if Croup is contagious, why is it important to treat Croup, what type of people catch the virus, and what medications are best to treat or help ease croup. Croup is most common in young children between the ages of 1 – 3 years of age. Croup usually is uncommon in children 6 years of age and older. The virus causes swelling in the upper airways between the throat and the trachea. The trachea is the windpipe or airway passage from the larynx to the lungs. The swelling can cause changes in the child’s voice and makes breathing difficult especially in babies and young children because their airways are much smaller than adults. Many women, especially moms,

Sometimes Croup can be a misdiagnosis of epiglottitis which is an inflammation of the epiglottis. In some cases a severe croup attack can cause a child to stop breathing. Croup may become more problematic when the child becomes agitated or upset. The severe croup may cause parents and child to become very frightened but as mentioned before the virus usually last anywhere between 1-6 days peeking around the 3rd day. The symptoms of croup are usually caused by narrow airways. The croup cough is very distinctive. It almost sounds like a barking seal and is very distinctive when you hear it. The child may develop a raspy hoarse voice. The last noticeable symptom but certainly not the least would be a harsh crowing noise when the child takes a deep breath in. A child may begin to breathe fast. The best way to relieve the child would be to sit him or her up in an upright position so the child can breathe more easily. The child’s temperature is usually normal or may slightly rise higher than