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
