Croup is often the result of a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, which causes inflammation of the larynx or vocal chords. It is most likely to occur after a cold or exposure to cold air. This spasm of the vocal chords makes inhaling difficult, causing a sensation of suffocation and a noise termed “stridor”. Croup usually affects children under 4 years old. It is a very frightening sounding cough that is loud, barking and harsh. The symptoms generally start with hoarseness, fever & louder than normal breathing. Croupy coughs may wake children from sleep as an attack usually occurs at night. An attack can last anywhere from ½ an hour to 3 hours & usually ceases suddenly. A bout of croup is likely to recur for up to 3 nights in succession. Because of the severe sound of a croup cough, combined with its accompanying systems it can be alarming, even terrifying to both parents & child.
It is important to try and remain calm yourself as you may exacerbate your child’s distress otherwise. For croup that is recurring, please seek a Homeopath for professional advice.
Seek professional attention immediately if:
• Your child is gasping for breath, is breathing rapidly or their skin turns bluish.
• There is welling of the larynx and/or throat.
• Symptoms persist, worsen or a fever accompanies.
Homeopathic Medicines to Consider
These 3 medicines are renowned for their curative action for croup. They are otherwise known as “cognates” or medicines that work well in alternation or succession for a given condition or state. Use a single medicine when the symptoms match well, or if undecided and/or symptoms are changeable, use 1 dose of a single medicine every 2 hours in rotation. Continue this process for no longer than 24 hours before consulting your practitioner. During an acute episode, doses of the most appropriate single medicines can be given every 15-30 minutes.
Aconite
• Is the first choice in the treatment of croup due to its effectiveness in the early stages and sudden onset.
• Comes on at night (especially midnight), waking from sleep with symptoms, accompanied by anxiety, especially after a fright.
• Barking; dry; irritating; short; tickling with a feeling of suffocation.
• Loud and spasmodic.
• Increased breathing rate with a feeling of congestion/tightness in the lungs.
• Child may grasp at the throat every time they cough.
• Cough is better when lying on the back.
Hepar Sulph
• Dry with suffocative attacks, especially at night. May be loose in the morning.
• Mucous is thick, sticky, yellow and tough.
• Cough and voice sound croaky.
• Irritation of the larynx (voice box).
• Inclination to bend the head backwards when coughing.
• Chest becomes sore from coughing.
• May be accompanied by sweating and/or vomiting.
• Worse in the early morning, after midnight (if worse at night see Aconite).
• Even a slight breath of cold air or uncovering induces coughing.
• Choking, wheezing and rattling.
• Difficultly bringing up mucous.
• No vomiting.
Spongia Tosta
• Difficult breathing, which is short and panting or loud and whistling between bouts of coughing.
• Cough sounds croupy – like a saw cutting through timber.
• May be caused by over-excitement and aggravated by over-indulgence in sweets.
• Worse after sleep; exercise; daytime.
• Better for warm food and beverages.
• Child is highly anxious.
Essential Oils
Eucalyptus Oil
4 drops of eucalyptus oil added to 1 tablespoon of water is great to use in a steamer or humidifier. Lemon oil, pine oil or both can also be used instead of or as well as eucalyptus oil. Alternatively, if you don’t have a humidifier or steamer, you can add the oils to a very hot bath, shut the doors and windows of the bathroom and sit there with your baby on your knee (in the bathroom, not in the bath) so he/she can breathe in the steam.
Old Fashioned Remedies
Steam
Steam often gives relief to the symptoms of croup. Turn the shower onto hot, close all the windows and doors and sit with your child in the bathroom. Alternatively you could boil the kettle in your child’s bedroom until the room fills with steam.
