Croup
Croup is not a particular illness, rather it is a name for what happens when the throat and the voice box are so swollen it leads a child's cough to sound like a bark and the inhale to sound squeaky. Doctors say that croup usually happens after a couple of days of cold symptoms and tends to be caused by viruses, though sometimes bacteria or allergies are to blame. Most cases of croup nowadays tend to be mild, though a bad case of croup can be dangerous.
Doctors say croup can look very frightening, but that there are some simple measures you can take to treat croup at home. Sitting with your child in a steam-filled bathroom or taking a walk in cool outdoor air can help subdue a croup attack. However doctors say if the croup seems bad and if your child has difficulty breathing, or turns blue, he should be taken to see a doctor. In some cases doctors prescribe steroids to reduce the swelling. Croup usually strikes children between ages three months and five years, and happens more often in the winter months. Some children seem to be more prone to croup than others, and will get repeated bouts of croup throughout childhood.
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