Is it possible to prevent the onset of croup and barking cough in paediatric patients?

Doctor's Answers 1

Croup is a viral infectious respiratory illness affecting mainly the voicebox, windpipe and sometimes the lungs. Many viruses can cause croup, including those responsible for the common cold and flu. Hence, the measure to prevent a croup are similar to that for a common cold.

These include practising good hand hygiene (by washing your hands regularly), coughing and sneezing into a tissue or into the elbow, cleaning surfaces regularly, avoiding food/drink sharing and keeping your children's immunization up to date.

In terms of medications, cough or cold medications have not been shown to be effective in the treatment of croup. Although the symptoms of a croup can be alarming, it is important to stay calm, sit your child upright and keep him/her well hydrated and well rested. Most of the time, croup resolves on its own within 48 hours. Having said that, if your child has the following warning symptoms, he/she should visit the A&E:

- Struggling to breathe (heavy breathing sounds or you see his/her tummy sucked in during breathing)

- Skin looks blue

- Unusually quiet and still

Hope this helps and all the best!

Similar Questions

How do I get rid of a persistent cough?

Cough is a reflex that protects your upper airway from foreign materials and irritants. However, when persistent, it can be a troublesome symptom. The cause of a chronic or prolonged cough can range from conditions arising from the nose (e. g. Rhinitis and Sinusitis), stomach (e. g. acid reflux from the stomach to the throat, medically known as Laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR) and lungs (e. g. Asthma, Bronchitis etc) to side effects from medications (e. g. blood pressure medications) and smoking.

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Answered By

Dr Eng Cern Gan

ENT Doctor

Are there any symptomatic treatments to help a persistent cough in an 8 year-old?

Thank you for your question. Cough is a reflex meant to protect your airway from an irritant (e. g. mucous, foreign bodies or virus/bacteria). When persistent, it is usually a symptom of a condition. A cough lasting longer than 8 weeks is called chronic cough. Common causes of chronic cough in children include problems arising from the nose and sinuses (e. g. allergic rhinitis, sinusitis), lungs (e. g. asthma, bronchitis, foreign bodies) or stomach (acid reflux).

Photo of Dr Eng Cern Gan

Answered By

Dr Eng Cern Gan

ENT Doctor

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