False croup: symptoms, treatment, first aid

The first symptoms of false croup are difficulty in nasal breathing, hoarseness of voice, barking cough. After a few hours, in the absence of first aid, stridor develops – noisy wheezing caused by laryngeal obstruction.

The main viruses that provoke the development of croup:

• parainfluenza viruses;
• rhinovirus;
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV);
• the flu virus;
• adenoviruses;
• enterovirus and others

Symptoms of acute laryngeal stenosis are more common at night and can wake up a child. In this situation, it is urgently necessary to consult a doctor. By morning, the symptoms may disappear, but they may recur during the day. With proper therapy, the risk of recurrence of false croup is significantly reduced, and full recovery occurs 3-5 days after the start of treatment.

Symptoms of croup may be similar to other pathologies, therefore, in any case, when the first signs of false croup appear, it is urgently necessary to consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct therapy.

The doctor's consultation includes:

• medical history collection, examination;
• auscultation (listening to breathing and possible wheezing above the surface of the lungs);
• measurement of blood oxygen saturation.

The doctor may recommend additional studies:

• general blood test;
• rapid tests for viral infections;
• Chest X-ray.

The choice of treatment for an accurate diagnosis depends on the child's age, general condition, and medical history. In case of breathing difficulties, it is necessary to immediately contact the attending pediatrician or the EMS doctor on duty to choose the right tactics and start treatment on time.

First aid before the doctor arrives at home:

• humidification of indoor air;
relief of high fever (with antipyretic drugs Ibuprofen and Paracetamol according to the instructions).

In case of severe illness, it may be necessary to hospitalize a small patient to a clinic for additional examinations and treatment.

It is important to calm the baby down to make it easier for him to breathe before the doctor arrives!