Croup is an acute inflammatory illness affecting the larynx, trachea and bronchi producing a barking seal-like cough with hoarseness and noisy breathing. It occurs mainly in young children because children’s airways are narrow, even modest swelling causes the characteristic barking cough and stridor. It is caused due to a viral infection especially parainfluenza viruses, RSV, Influenza, Adenovirus or Rhinovirus.
REMEDIES:
1. Aconite- This should be given during the first phase of croup symptoms. Acute congestion. Dry heat. Sudden onset, high fever, anxiety and fear, dry barking cough, midnight aggravation, restless child, hoarse cough, loud breathing. Sudden violent croup after exposure to cold dry wind.
2. Spongia tosta- Main remedy. Dry, barking, ‘saw through a board’ sound, dryness of larynx, awakens before midnight, suffocative attacks, extreme dryness with little mucus, worse before midnight.
3. Hepar sulph: Croup remedy for later stage, loose rattling cough, impending suffocation, sensitive to cold air, extreme sensitiveness, choking cough. Worse at slightest cold air or uncovering.
4. Kali bichromicum: Tough, stringy mucus, croup with tenacious mucus, metallic cough, rattling but difficult expectoration, ropy secretions.
5. Sambucus nigra: Suffocative attacks at midnight, dry heat during sleep, profuse sweat on waking, sudden night attacks.
6. Drosera: Spasmodic barking cough, choking, cough follows each other rapidly, worse after midnight. Violent spasmodic croupy cough in rapid succession.
You should seek urgent medical evaluation if you see the following: blue lips, severe breathing difficulty, drooling, inability to swallow, persistent stridor at rest or chest retractions.
For any questions or consult, VISIT