September 24, 2012

If you child is coughing or having trouble breathing, it may be time take them to see a doctor. In this week's What's Going Around we're talking about croup which is a viral infection of the vocal cords.

Our medical information is coming to us from Dr. J. Yates Sealander of Madison Family Medicine.

Symptoms of croup include a distinctive cough, hoarse voice and occasional difficulty breathing. The illness can last about five or six days.

Croup typically impacts children under age seven and is worse in kids younger than 3-years-old.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Sealander says if it's severe, a physician may prescribe a one-time dose of steroids. If the illness is mild, he suggests inhaling a warm mist like a foggy bathroom or bundling up and going outside to breathe cold air. You can also use Tylenol or Motrin if there is a fever.

It's important to point out that croup is quite contagious until the fever is gone or three days into the illness.

Also, Dr. Sealander is reminding patients to get a flu shot.