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Symptoms

The larynx (vocal cords) or trachea (windpipe) narrows because infection causes the walls to swell inward. There is difficulty in breathing; hoarseness; tightness in the lungs; a harsh, barking cough; and even a feeling of suffocation. Because their air pipes are smaller, croup most often occurs in children.

The special symptom of croup is a harsh, wheezing noise as air is breathed in through the narrowed windpipe and past the inflamed vocal cords, often accompanied by fits of coughing.

Causes

Croup can be caused by bacteria or viruses. When caused by a bacteria, croup generally follows a cold or another mild respiratory infection. But when it is caused by a virus (as happens more often, especially in boys), more serious conditions, such as the flu, have occurred.

Croup most often occurs during the winter months, and most frequently affects children from 3 months to 3 years (9 to 18 months is the peak).

Treatments

• Maintain a good water intake, to help loosen secretions. Only drink lukewarm water. If the child is told to drink a glass of water after each coughing attack, the coughs will stop after the third or fourth glass. Water is the best cough medicine.

• Use a vaporizer or humidifier at night, or put a pan of water or tea kettle on a hot plate. This will help keep the air moist for the child through the night.

• Try to have someone stay with the child. If he is too anxious, you may find it best to hold him for a time. This will reassure him.

• Avoid sudden temperature changes. Keep the child warm, but avoid overheating.

• During the day, you might wish to put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a vaporizer; and, for a time, have him inhale the vapor.

• Echinacea, fenugreek, goldenseal, and thyme are helpful herbs.

• Homemade soups and broths are good for the child.

• Fomentations to the neck and upper chest region bring relief. After the acute phase, a heating compress may be applied to the chest.

• You can apply hot onion packs over the chest and back 3 times a day. Place sliced onions between cloths, and cover with a heating pad.

• Steroids and antibiotics are useless if this is a viral sickness. Do not use cough medicines and other colds preparations, for they tend to thicken the secretions (anti-congestants are always drying agents) and make it still harder to clear the throat.

• When croup keeps reoccurring, the cause may well be that the child is allergic to some type of food. Try to ascertain what it might be (see Allergies).

J.H. Kellogg, M.D., Formulas

(1) ACUTE CATARRH OF LARYNX -

GENERAL == Treatments == Hot Bath with Cold Compress to head; hot water drinking; Cold Mitten Friction, every 3 hours; Steam Inhalation, inhalation of vapor from water with calcium in it. Cold Compress at 600 F. over throat, changed every 10-20 minutes; Hot Blanket Pack, every 3-4 hours for 15 minutes; keep feet, legs, and arms warm.

(2) FALSE CROUP, SPASMODIC LARYNGITIS -

PREVENT ATTACKS-by hardening the skin with daily Cold Bath. Remove nasal obstruction, hypertrophies, or adenoid vegetation. Inhalations.

PREVENT CHILLING OF SHOULDERS-during sleep, by warm sleeping jacket. Proper clothing.

DEVELOP RESISTANCE-Graduated Tonic Frictions, out-of-door life, careful regulation of clothing.

RELIEVE CONGESTION-If spasm is severe, relieve the congestion by Hot Blanket Pack or Hot Full Bath. Repeat every 3-6 hours. Hot Half Bath with Cold Pail Pour to head, back, and chest. Follow bath with ice-cold Heating Compress to neck, to be changed every 2-4 hours. Fomentation to cervical, upper, and middle spine for 15 minutes each time the ice compress is changed.

TO RELIEVE SPASM-Compress the phrenic nerve by pressure just above the sternal intersection of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle; percuss (hit) chest with end of cold wet towel or dash cold water over chest and back.

BRONCHITIS-If present, relieve it with Chest Pack; repeat in 4-6 hours. Cold Mitten Friction twice a day. Steam Inhalation and copious water drinking when bronchial, or laryngeal, catarrh exists.

This page was last modified on 2 December 2010, at 01:14.

URL: http://naturalencyclopedia.com/Croup

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