Croup, which is a condition usually seen in babies as young as six months and toddlers up to the age of three, causes inflammation and swelling of the voice box and windpipe. Keep in mind that you have two types, spasmodic and viral. With the first type of croup, the baby or child would wake up in the night, not run a fever, and cough, making a seal-like sound. With viral croup, the baby or child would usually have an accompanying cold, run a fever, and cough.
If your baby or child gets up in the night coughing, you can try some home remedies, which work well. Now, you might get better result with spasmodic croup than you would viral croup but you can try this regardless. Start by turning on the bath water or shower on the hottest temperature possible, helping to create steam. Keep the bathroom door shut to contain the steam. After five minutes, take your child in the bathroom with you, keeping the water running for about 20 minutes. Many times, the steam will help reduce the inflammation, thus opening the airways so he or she can breathe better.
Then, use a humidifier or cold-water vaporizer in your child’s room for three nights, including the night using the steam. It is possible your child will still cough but keep the treatment of steam and vaporizer going. If at any time during these three days your baby/child does not improve, the fever should spike, or your child is having serious trouble breathing, get medical help, as appropriate, whether through a doctor’s office visit or calling 911.
If you find your baby or child in trouble, having great difficulty breathing, call 911 and the place your child on his/her back, tilting the head back slightly to help open the airway. Never use your finger or any object to try to open the airway, which will only cause more damage. Remember, the swelling of the voice box and windpipe is deep within the throat so you could not reach it anyway. This level of intensity is not common but it is wise to be aware of potential risks.
If after three days, chances are your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help eliminate infection. Other possible treatments would include a baby or child cough syrup, and the continuation of steam alternated with cool vapor. The one thing to remember is that if your child awakens during the night, and the steam does not work within a short time, never be afraid to call the pediatrician for further instruction. The information provided works but that does not means it is the appropriate solution for every case, which is why calling the doctor should always be considered.