How long is a child contagious with croup

Is Croup Contagious to Children or Adults? Plus, Prevention

Croup is a condition caused by an infection that affects the upper portion of the airway, including the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe). It’s common in young children between ages 6 months and 3 years. It tends to occur in the fall months.

Common symptoms of croup include:

barking cough
high-pitched or noisy breathing (stridor)
hoarseness or losing your voice
low grade fever
runny or stuffy nose

The symptoms of croup are often worse in the evening or when a child is anxious or crying. They usually last for 3 to 5 days, though a mild cough may linger for up to a week. If your child has any trouble breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

The infection that causes croup is contagious. But how contagious is it to adults? Is it more contagious between children? Read on to find out.

Croup is most often caused by a viral infection, typically by a type of virus called a parainfluenza virus. Other viruses that can cause it include:

enteroviruses
rhinoviruses
influenza A and B viruses
respiratory syncytial virus

In rare cases, bacteria can cause croup. This type of croup is often more severe than viral types.

The infection that causes croup is contagious, meaning that it can be transmitted from person to person. The infection-causing agents (pathogens) are transferred by inhaling respiratory droplets that are produced when someone with croup coughs or sneezes.

In addition, coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or faucet handles, and then touching the face, nose, or mouth can spread the infection.

Teenagers sometimes develop croup, but it’s very rare in adults. Adult airways are larger and more developed than those of children. As a result, they might come into contact with the virus and possibly develop an infection, but it will not cause the same breathing issues that it does in children.

If an adult does develop croup symptoms, they’re usually mild and include a light cough or sore throat. However, some adults may develop more severe breathing symptoms and require hospitalization. Again, this is very rare.

As of 2017, there were only 15 reported cases of adult croup in medical literature, though the true incidence is not known. Read more about croup in adults.

Infectious agents that cause croup can be transferred for about 3 days after a person starts to show symptoms or until their fever disappears. The recommendation is to remain home until 24 hours without fever and without using fever-reducing medications.

If your child has croup, it’s best to keep them home from school or other environments with lots of children for at least 3 days. You should also keep them home as long as they have any kind of fever.

You can reduce your or your child’s risk of developing croup by washing your hands often, especially after sneezing, and keeping hands away from your face. If someone around you has croup, try to limit your interaction with them until they’ve recovered.

If you or your child already has croup, it’s also helpful to cough or sneeze into a tissue. Wash your hands frequently to avoid transferring it to others.

There are also vaccines available for some bacterial infections that cause illnesses similar to severe croup. These include the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and the diphtheria vaccine. Only certain adults at high risk will qualify for the Hib vaccine.

Speak with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician to determine if and when these vaccines are needed.

Making sure that both you and your child receive these vaccines can protect against these more serious infections. Be sure to follow the routine vaccine schedules for adults and for children.

Croup is a condition that tends to only affect children. Most cases are caused by a virus.

While a child can pass the virus to an adult, the virus usually does not affect adults the same way that it does children. This is because adult airways are larger and are less susceptible to airway issues.

However, the viruses or bacteria that cause croup can be easily transmitted between children, so it’s best to keep them at home for at least 3 days or until they no longer have a fever.

Symptoms, Treatment, Outlook, and More

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Overview

Croup is an infection that affects your breathing and causes a distinct “barking” cough. It usually impacts young kids, but in rare cases, adults can develop croup too.

Researchers don’t know how common croup is in adults. A study published in 2017 reported on what the authors described as the 15th adult croup case documented in literature.

Read on to learn more about what causes croup and how doctors treat it.

Symptoms of croup may include:

a loud, barking cough that gets worse at night
labored, noisy, or “whistling” breathing
high fever
hoarse voice
agitation
fatigue

These symptoms last about three to five days.

The most telltale signs of croup are a cough that sounds like a barking seal and a high-pitched, whistling sound when you take a breath. See your doctor if you have these signature signs of the illness.

Symptoms are usually worse in adults than in children. A 2000 study looked at 11 cases of adult croup and compared them to 43 cases of child croup. Researchers found upper respiratory tract symptoms and noisy breathing were more common in adults.

Croup is usually caused by a contagious virus, such as a parainfluenza virus. These viruses can spread if you breathe in air droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets can also survive on surfaces, so you can become infected if you touch an object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

When a virus attacks your body, it can produce swelling around your vocal cords, windpipe, and bronchial tubes. This swelling causes symptoms of croup.

Adults may catch the contagious virus, but they have larger airways, so they’re unlikely to develop croup. Kids, because of their smaller breathing passages, are more apt to feel the effects of the swelling and inflammation.

Croup in adults can also be caused by:

other viruses
a bacterial infection, such as a staph infection
a fungal infection

Your doctor can diagnose croup by listening to your breathing with a stethoscope and examining your throat. Sometimes, a chest X-ray is performed to confirm that it’s croup and not something else.

It’s important to get a diagnosis early on so you can begin treatment before your condition becomes severe. See your doctor if you suspect croup.

Adults with croup may need more aggressive treatment than children.

Your doctor might prescribe a steroid, such as dexamethasone (DexPak) or epinephrine (nebulized — that is, in the form of a mist) to lessen swelling in your airways.

You might need to spend time in the hospital if your condition is severe. Studies show adults with croup typically stay in the hospital longer than children with croup.

Sometimes doctors will need to place a breathing tube in your windpipe to help you breathe.

Most kids start feeling better within three to five days, but adults might need more time to recover.

Home remedies

Some home remedies that may help speed up your recovery include the following:

Use a humidifier. This device can help moisten the air, which could make breathing easier. Get a humidifier today.
Drink lots of fluids. Staying hydrated is important when you have croup.
Rest. Getting enough sleep can help your body fight off the virus.
Stay in an upright position. Sitting upright can help your symptoms. Propping extra pillows under your head may while in bed may also help you to sleep better.
Use over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or other pain medicines can lower your fever and reduce your pain.

To prevent croup, use the same measures you would use to avoid colds and the flu.

Wash your hands often to avoid airborne droplets that can cause viruses to spread. It’s especially important to wash your hands before you eat or touch your eyes.
Avoid people who are sick, if possible.
Don’t share drinks or food with someone else who has croup.

Croup in adults is unusual, but possible. If you develop croup as an adult, you might experience worse symptoms and need more aggressive treatment. Be sure to see your doctor if you think you might have this infection because catching it early could lead to a better outcome.

Treatment of false croup in a child. Withdrawal of an attack. Fantasy Clinic in Moscow

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90,000 symptoms and treatment.

Signs, causes and diagnosis of false croup in a child.

False croup is an acute inflammatory process localized in the larynx. Accompanied by swelling of the subglottic region. This condition leads to obstruction. Inflammation is fraught with narrowing of the area under the vocal cords, which is manifested by noisy and labored breathing. A common cause is a viral infection. It differs from laryngitis by stenosis of the larynx.

This disease is most common in children aged 3 months to 5 years. As the child grows older, this condition ceases to be life-threatening, because the trachea becomes larger and breathing problems usually do not occur. Croup can appear at any time of the year, but is more common during the fall and winter months.

The etiology is usually viral - parainfluenza viruses, especially type I, cause the disease in 75% of cases. Relatively common causes of false croup in children are respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and human coronavirus. The infection is usually spread by breathing contaminated air, or by contact with objects that an infected person has come into contact with.

Influenza is a relatively rare cause that requires longer hospital stays and has an increased risk of a second attack. Rhinovirus, enterovirus, and herpes simplex are sporadic causes of mild croup.

It is also possible to develop against the background of bacterial infection with mycoplasma, streptococcus, chlamydia, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. Diphtheria was the most common form of fatal stenosing laryngitis in another era, but at present this disease is practically absent due to vaccination of the population.

The illness may begin as a cold, with stuffy nose or coryza and fever. As the airways swell, the following symptoms may occur:

barking cough that worsens at night;
noisy, rapid breathing;
hoarseness or hoarseness of voice;
inspiratory type of shortness of breath;
excessive anxiety.

Symptoms of false croup in children appear 2-3 days after the onset of ARI (acute respiratory infection). As a rule, there is an increase in the cervical lymph nodes (lymphadenitis).

In the acute viral form, the onset of symptoms is usually gradual, beginning with rhinorrhea, mild cough, and fever. Progresses after 12-48 hours, typical symptoms appear, dysphonia, dog cough. Stridor (whistling noisy breathing) at first occurs only when excited or crying, but with increasing severity it also manifests itself at rest.

The clinical course is usually fluctuating, with a remission of 2 to 7 days, although the cough may persist for longer. Unlike laryngotracheitis, false croup always occurs at night - the onset and cessation of symptoms are abrupt. Fever is usually absent. Episodes may be repeated over two nights.

Alveolar gas exchange is normal and there will be hypoxia only when almost complete obstruction occurs. Excessive pallor, cyanosis, and deterioration in general well-being require immediate medical attention.

In case of respiratory failure, which is characteristic of the II and III stages of the disease, the addition of bacterial flora is possible. At the same time, a film of purulent-fibrinous type is formed on the walls of the larynx.

In the absence of timely treatment, the infection spreads lower, which is fraught with the development of tracheobronchitis, bronchitis or pneumonia. Common complications include sinusitis, purulent meningitis, tonsillitis, conjunctivitis, and otitis media.

As a rule, the diagnosis is clinical, and no additional examinations are required. A rapid assessment of general well-being, vital signs, and mental status should be performed to identify children with severe respiratory distress and respiratory failure. Diagnosis should be carried out in a calm environment.

The severity of illness is determined by the presence of stridor at rest, chest wall retraction, the presence or absence of pallor or cyanosis, and mental stability.

Additional diagnostic methods:

Pulse oximetry is of limited utility because the pulse may be normal even with a significant degree of airway obstruction. It is recommended to control the pulse in severe condition.
A radiological evaluation is usually not required. A neck x-ray may show the typical progressive and symmetrical narrowing of the trachea in subglottic stenosis. It is prescribed for a dubious diagnosis, atypical course, suspicion of the presence of a foreign body.

Nasopharyngeal aspiration to look for a possible infectious etiology may be useful in hospitalized patients and to control infection. The differential diagnosis should be made primarily with spasmodic laryngitis, epiglottitis, and bacterial tracheitis and with other causes of acute obstruction. Foreign body aspiration may present abruptly but should also be ruled out in children who do not respond to treatment or have a long recovery.

The presence of chronic symptoms, persistent or recurring, and the absence of catarrhal signs or fever should raise the suspicion of congenital anomalies of the respiratory tract (laryngomalacia, vocal cord paralysis, subglottic stenosis, subglottic hemangioma, etc.).

A retropharyngeal or periamillary abscess may be mistaken for a false croup. In this case, a CT scan (computed tomography) is prescribed, which allows you to determine the exact cause. Dysphagia and excessive salivation may indicate epiglottitis, a foreign body in the airway or esophagus. Allergic angioedema can also mimic the disease, although it usually occurs in conjunction with other anaphylactic manifestations.

If a respiratory pattern develops, parents should consult a pediatrician or otolaryngologist as soon as possible. Corticoids are the most effective drugs. A single dose of oral dexamethasone is effective in all cases, regardless of the severity of the disease. Doctors are faced with the task of reassuring the child and parents. To improve the patient's well-being, painkillers and antihistamines are prescribed.

Inhalation with a nebulizer and fresh air help to reduce the dryness of the mucous membranes, which improves well-being. If there is respiratory distress and O2 saturation is less than 94%, then there is a need for additional oxygen therapy.

Treatment includes the use of the following medications:

Corticoids. They reduce swelling and have an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as relieve the intensity of symptoms. There are no side effects with short-term use. Corticosteroids eliminate the need for adrenaline and intubation.
Adrenalin. Also proven to be effective, especially in moderate to severe cases. Reduces the need for intubation. The effect comes in 10 minutes.

Children with mild croup can be treated at home. The patient should be in a comfortable position, drink a lot and stay in bed, because fatigue and crying aggravate the disease. Home-use humidifiers (such as cold mist vaporizers) reduce upper airway dryness and make breathing easier. Recovery occurs, as a rule, for 3-4 days.

First aid for false croup in children includes taking measures that are aimed at opening the airways. To do this, you need to provide an influx of fresh air or take the child outside. Steam inhalation gives a good effect.

Children with increasing or continuing respiratory distress, tachycardia, fatigue, dehydration, or bluish discoloration of the skin are hospitalized. Oxygen treatment is given. If the patient feels better, the patient can be discharged home.

The use of antibiotics is limited to rare cases where the child also develops a bacterial infection. The viral nature of the disease requires the appointment of antiviral drugs.

There are no drugs that prevent stenosis of the larynx. It is useless to give the child immunomodulating agents. Even those children who are distinguished by good health are not immune from false croup.