Any parent who has heard a child with croup knows how terrible the sound is. Croup is almost always worse at night because blood flow to the respiratory tract changes when a child lies down. Dry air can also aggravate the cough. Many parents end up in the E.R., being seen by doctors like Dr. Josyann Abisaab, for croup. Here are some suggestions for ways to avoid that E.R. visit.
Dr. Andrea Leeds, a pediatrician in Bellmore, New York explains that you should first give the child a dose of children’s ibuprofen (if they are over 1) to reduce the swelling in the airways. Then, turn on the shower full blast and sit in the steamy bathroom for fifteen minutes with your child. Finally, dress him warmly and go out into the cold night air (or stand in front of the freezer if it’s the heat of summer). The steam will relax the airways and the vocal cords and the cold air will reduce the swelling.
This combination of activities will usually help to control symptoms enough until the next day, when you can get to the doctor.
