We took my 3 y/o daughter to the doctor Tuesday after 3 nights of coughing. She didn’t have anything in her chest/lungs, didn’t cough much during the day, and had no fever until the 3rd day, and it was pretty minor- about.5 degree F. She was diagnosed with Croup- a virus that settles in the larynx, causes it to inflame/swell a bit, and incites coughing. The inflamed larynx causes the cough to sound horrible- deep and hacking. Oral steroids for 3-5 nights to keep the larynx in check, plus cough suppressant. She’s felling much better- 2 good nights of sleep now! Here’s the question:
My wife and I seem to have the same cold syptoms, plus I’m coughing. Is this something that goes through the system like a normal cold, or do I need to go to the doc as well? Other than some mild coughing, I’m fine. Wife just seems to have a light cold, no coughing. Luckily, this is a rest week, so the time off training isn’t hurting too badly…
If you have the ‘typical’ cold symptoms, then no need to see the doc. Croup is just a virus, but kids get the REALLY bad cough due to their smaller airways; inflamation of the airway causes the horrible, wretched sound.
I spent 2 hours in the ER on Saturday night because of croup. My daughter has very bad asthma, so her croup is magnified.
The good news is that most kids outgrow it by the time they’re 4-5 years old.
For you it should be like a normal cold. Parainfluenza, respiratory syncitial virus and any of a number of adenoviruses are the usual suspects. It should not require any special treatment in a healthy adult beyond what you’d do for any other sort of cold.
I’m glad your daughter is feeling better. I can still remember that awful coughing sound from when my daughters were young. It sounds like a seal bark! I have nothing to add except I hope you all feel better soon.
I have been coughing for over a month now and three days ago finally saw the doc: Sounds like my symptoms and diagnosis from my Doctor, without him calling it croup. And he also gave me a five day course of Steroids to bring down the inflamation in my throat. This happens to me every couple of years and has been treated with either prednisone or Advair.
I would only see the doc if it has lingered more than a week or two. I would have gone sooner but I was traveling
Croup: also known as LTB ( larygo-tracheal bronchitis ) is normally caused by a viral infection which mostly in little ones causes swelling of the vocal cords. This swelling can cause the hallmark “barky” cough that usually makes us think croup. In more severe cases the patient may display stridor, very noisy breathing with dyspnea.
Usual treatment for a non stridorous case is one dose of 0.6mg/kg of Dexamethasone ( an oral steroid) to max of 12mg. In more ssevere cases a mask of nebulised epinephrine can bring down the swelling acutely. The dex takes about 4hrs to work and will last 24-36hrs. Croup is usally only bad for 2 nights so one dose is often enough. The cough may persisit but shouldn’t be as intense.
Croup is most common in 3 and under but by all means can occur in older patients. Watch for differential diagnoses of bacterial tracheitis or epiglotitis. In those cases the patient usually appears more toxic (sick) and doesn’t respond to croup treatments. A lateral neck x-ray can usually differentiate.
Some nights in ER it is like a parade of croup patients.
Things to do at home, bundle the patient up and take them outside to breathe in cold air ( croup is most common in winter months). This may relieve mild symptoms. Popsicles are good too. If no relief or there is marked difficulty breathing get to ER. This is the airway we’re talking about here.
Watch for difficulty breathing, stridor, excessive drooling.