Causes and Prevention for Croup
Causes
Croup is usually caused by a viral infection, most often a parainfluenza virus.
Your child may get a virus by breathing infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. Virus particles in these droplets may also survive on toys and other surfaces. If your child touches a surface with a virus on it, and then touches the eyes, nose or mouth, an infection may follow.
Risk factors
Children between 6 months and 3 years of age have the highest risk of getting croup. Because children have small airways, they're likely to have more symptoms with croup. Croup rarely occurs in children older than 6 years of age.
Complications
Most cases of croup are mild. In a small number of children, the airway swells enough to cause problems with breathing. Rarely, a bacterial infection of the windpipe can occur in addition to the viral infection. This can result in trouble breathing and requires emergency medical care.
Only a small number of children seen in the emergency room for croup require a stay in the hospital.
Prevention
To prevent croup, take the same steps you use to prevent colds and flu.
- Frequent hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the most important step.
- Keep your child away from anyone who's sick.
- Encourage your child to cough or sneeze into the elbow.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
To prevent more-serious infections that may cause croup, keep your child's vaccinations up to date. The diphtheria and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines offer protection from some of the rarest — but most dangerous — upper airway infections. There isn't a vaccine yet that protects against parainfluenza viruses.