False croup. False croup in children: the name is dubious, but the disease is real

This disease causes a barking cough and a high-pitched sound when inhaling. Although some cases of croup have been associated with allergic reactions, the cause is usually a virus, in most cases it is the parainfluenza virus. Most often, the disease can be contracted from infected person, in some cases by airborne droplets, and sometimes from the child’s hands, through which the virus enters his nasopharynx or eyes.

Croup most often occurs in autumn or winter among children aged three months to three years. On early stage The child may experience nasal congestion, the same as with a cold, and a fever. After a day or two, the sound of the cough will begin to resemble a dog barking and will intensify at night.

The most dangerous thing with croup will be further swelling of the airways, narrowing windpipe child and difficulty - and sometimes inability - to breathe. When a child becomes tired trying to breathe, he may stop eating and drinking. He may also feel too exhausted to cough. By the way, some teenagers are very prone to croup - this disease develops in them every time they catch a respiratory infection.

Croup is a stenosing laryngotracheitis, which is one of the most dangerous manifestations of a respiratory viral infection. Croup develops most often with parainfluenza infection, influenza A, and less often with adeno- and RS-viral infections, and different viruses dominate in different years. Boys get croup more often than girls; Mostly children aged from 6 months to 3-4 years are susceptible to croup.

The basis of the disease is inflammatory edema mucous membrane of the larynx, and consequently, a sharp narrowing of its lumen and difficulty breathing. The latter in severe cases (attachment of bacterial tracheobronchitis) requires the creation of artificial paths for air access.

Symptoms and signs of croup in children

The clinical picture of croup also occurs with epiglottitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the epiglottis (the cartilaginous plate that covers the entrance to the larynx during swallowing), caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

The disease usually begins with a runny nose, cough, low temperature. After 2-3 days, a dry, barking, ringing cough appears, hoarse voice, difficult noisy (especially when inhaling) breathing. Often these signs appear in the evening or at night. The child is usually restless, does not find a place for himself, and often looks frightened.

The degree of breathing disturbance can be judged by its frequency and severity of retraction of the intercostal spaces, hypochondrium and jugular fossa (on the neck, above the upper end of the sternum) during inspiration, as well as by the appearance of cyanosis (blueness of the skin and mucous membranes). In all these cases, calling an ambulance is indicated.

With the development of laryngeal stenosis, you should always think about diphtheria (which, however, has become very rare thanks to widespread vaccination).

Despite the fact that in most children, manifestations of croup (hoarseness of voice, mild respiratory distress) quickly end complete cure, these children still need constant monitoring (preferably in a hospital), since the deterioration of their condition can occur suddenly and its outcome will depend on how quickly help is provided. In a small proportion of children, the narrowing of the lumen of the larynx increases, leading to depletion of respiratory reserves; in these cases, intubation is indicated (insertion of a plastic tube through the nose into the larynx until inflammation decreases). IN in some cases tracheotomy is performed.

Some children, usually with signs of an allergic predisposition, experience relapses with croup; they usually proceed more easily, but parents must be especially vigilant.

If a child shows signs of laryngitis, an urgent visit to a doctor is necessary. Such children are usually hospitalized (except for those who do not show signs of breathing problems upon examination).

A child with signs of croup must be calmed and picked up. Inhaling humidified air (for example, in the bathroom, where a hot shower is running with the door closed), a warm bath in many cases can improve its condition. Children with allergic disease Those who have previously received antihistamines (diphenhydramine, suprastin, pipolfen, etc.) can be given 1 g - 1 tablet of one of the drugs. Other appointments should be avoided until the doctor arrives.

In cases of developed laryngeal stenosis (in a hospital), aerosol inhalations of various solutions are used primarily. Antibiotics and prednisone are widely used for croup, but there are reasonable doubts about the advisability of this. Naturally, when bacterial tracheobronchitis and pneumonia occur, antibiotics are required, as well as for the treatment of epiglottitis. Children undergoing intubation and tracheostomy should be treated in intensive care units.

Treatment of croup in children

If a child with croup wakes up in the middle of the night, take him to a bathtub filled with steam from the running water. hot water. Close the door tightly and sit with your baby in the steamy bathroom for a while. Breathing in warm, moist air for 15-20 minutes should make your baby's breathing easier. For the remainder of the night and the next few nights, use a humidifier or cold water vaporizer in your baby's room.

Don't try to reveal Airways baby with your fingers. His breathing is difficult due to tissue swelling that you cannot reach, and therefore you cannot help this child. After a strong cough, your child may vomit, but do not try to make him vomit yourself.

Monitor your child's breathing closely.

Take your child to the nearest emergency department immediately if:

• when he breathes, he will begin to make whistling sounds, which will become louder and louder each time;
• the child will not be able to speak due to lack of air;
• the child seems to be fighting for every breath of air;
• The child's skin will take on a bluish tint when coughing.

To treat croup, your pediatrician may prescribe steroid drugs. These medications will help reduce swelling of the larynx and speed up recovery. Antibiotics will not help in this case, since the cause of the disease is a virus or an allergic reaction. Cough syrups won't help either.

In the most serious cases, which are quite rare, your child will have extreme difficulty breathing, so your pediatrician may hospitalize your child for several days until the swelling in the airway subsides. In some cases, a special tube may be inserted into the child's windpipe through the nose and mouth to help the child breathe.

Despite the name - false croup in children - this disease is very real. Moreover, sometimes it is very dangerous and serious. It will be useful for parents to know by what symptoms children’s croup is recognized and how to deal with it.

In some situations, croup in children can lead to asthma attacks.
Therefore, consulting a doctor when choosing a treatment method is mandatory!

Major disease in young children

Let's start with the fact that a separate diagnosis such as “croup” or “false croup” does not exist at all. Croup syndrome in children in most cases develops against the background. More specifically:

Croup in children is stenosing laryngitis (that is, a form of inflammation of the larynx in which the walls of the larynx sharply narrow, causing difficulty breathing and the threat of suffocation). Children's croup never develops on its own, but only against the background of an infectious disease.

In other words: if laryngitis in children can be caused by other reasons besides an infectious disease (for example, an allergy attack or a burn of the respiratory tract), then croup occurs only against the background of an infection and nothing else.

Moreover, infections can be different: both viral (such as rubella, etc.) and bacterial (diphtheria, and others).

A few decades ago, croup was most often associated with an infection such as diphtheria. And then it was called by doctors the expression “true croup.” But in our time, thanks to mass vaccination of children, outbreaks of diphtheria (and, accordingly, diphtheria croup) have long been unheard of. In modern pediatrics, croup in most cases (more than 98% of cases among children) is diagnosed in children with ARVI. And accordingly, viral croup began to bear a second name - “false croup.” So there are still two different cereals:

• true (occurring extremely rarely and only during an outbreak of diphtheria);
• false croup in children (occurring against the background of ARVI, and most often against the background of parainfluenza).

In most cases, croup syndrome in children is provoked by the activity of the parainfluenza virus, to which adults practically do not react, but small children “catch” it very “willingly”. So most often the first croup in children (and there can be any number of them) occurs between the ages of six months and 2 years. That is, at the very period when the baby begins to actively communicate with other children on the playground, in the pool, in the nursery, etc.

Doctors noticed a pattern: the later in age a child experiences the first parainfluenza and, accordingly, the first croup, the more severe the disease.

The most obvious symptoms of false croup in children are temporary loss of voice,
coughing and difficulty breathing.

At the same time, with age, the child’s cereals gradually become less frequent and more easily tolerated. And not because the baby adapts to them or begins to develop some new immune protection, but simply because the older the child gets, the more he grows and internal organs. Including the larynx! And the wider the diameter of the larynx, the less likely it is to get laryngitis or croup.

Popular children's doctor, Dr. E. O. Komarovsky: “With the same inflammation of the larynx, with the same degree of swelling - where the child begins to choke and turn blue, the adult will simply scream more quietly.”

False croup in children: symptoms

The symptoms of croup, especially in young children, are always obvious - they can be easily recognized by any parent, no matter how far from medicine they may be. The combination of the following 4 symptoms gives a very high probability that this is croup in front of you:

• 1 In a child elevated temperature(and this is sure sign infections);
• 2 The baby has a barking cough;
• 3 There is a change in voice (or the voice disappears for a while);
• 4 The child has difficulty breathing (and it is difficult to inhale, but exhalation is always easy and free).

There is a fundamental difference in the symptoms of classic laryngitis and croup: with general symptoms (barking cough, signs of infection, hoarse voice), laryngitis never causes difficulty breathing. However, it is too early for parents to “relax” - it also happens that laryngitis is only the beginning of croup. For example, at first the baby showed signs of inflammation of the larynx, but was breathing freely, and a day later he began to choke while inhaling - this means that laryngitis gradually progressed to croup.

Why is it difficult for a child to breathe with false croup:

• due to swelling of the laryngeal mucosa;
• due to hypersecretion: accumulation in the respiratory tract in the larynx area a large number of mucus (which during inflammation is “produced” in double volume);
• due to muscle spasm of the larynx (especially strong in conditions when the child is scared and in pain);

An important note: if you, as a parent, are encountering croup for the first time and do not yet know how to behave and what to do, then with each acute attack of difficulty breathing (which most often occurs at night, during sleep), you should call an emergency room for your child help.

Features of the treatment of croup in children

• 1 Treatment of croup in children should begin with creating a comfortable and calm atmosphere for the child. The fact is that when the baby is worried, nervous, panicked or afraid, the risk of severe muscle spasm of the larynx (which can result in suffocation) increases many times over.
• 2 In addition to stress (which can provoke muscle spasms of the larynx), warm and dry air in the room where the child lives is extremely dangerous for croup. Therefore (especially during an attack of difficulty breathing and waiting for an ambulance to arrive), it is necessary to provide the child with access to fresh, cool and moist air. Even if it’s frosty outside, open the windows and let fresh air into the room, after dressing your child warmly.

With croup, it is many times more beneficial for a sick baby to breathe frosty air while sitting at home in a fur hat than to breathe dry and hot air while walking around the apartment in only a diaper. For a child with croup who really has difficulty breathing, the optimal microclimate in the room is: temperature no higher than 18 ° C, humidity - 55-70%.

• 3 If you have croup, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids. Because the more a child drinks, the more liquid both blood and mucus become in his body. And if the mucus is liquid, then it will not accumulate into clots and clog the larynx.
• 4 At temperatures above 38° C, the child should be given antipyretic drugs - Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
• 5 Since with false croup in children the vocal cords “fail” for some time due to the inflammatory process in the larynx, ideally they should be disturbed and strained as little as possible. To do this, the baby should maintain vocal rest for several days.
• 6 A tragic mistake made by many parents who barely hear it is an attempt to use expectorants. Any croup expectorant can lead to suffocation of a child. Namely: with croup, the larynx already barely allows a small amount of air to pass through, causing difficulty breathing and a barking cough. However, the very essence of cough expectorants is to further stimulate the production of sputum, that is, mucus. The narrow neck of the inflamed larynx simply cannot cope with such a “burden”, trying to cough up a large amount of phlegm, and will be clogged.
• 7 Another strict taboo for false croup in children is the use steam inhalations. The reason for the prohibition is the same as when using mucolytics (expectorants): hot steam promotes the swelling of dried mucus crusts, increasing their size. And accordingly, causing the risk of blockage of the larynx.

Prevention of croup - better none than the wrong one

Parents of children must understand and believe that frequent cereals (despite the viral nature of their origin) have nothing to do with the weakened immune system and weakened state of health of the child.

False croup, oddly enough, affects physically strong and healthy children more often

This means that the prevention of croup is in no way connected with strengthening the immune system, especially with the help of any immunostimulants or immunomodulators.

Dr. E. O. Komarovsky: “Dear parents, please remember: you cannot prevent the occurrence of croup with any medicine, no pills!”

The only reasonable and effective prevention croup (like many other respiratory diseases in children) is the creation of comfortable, “healthy” everyday conditions for the child:

• normal climate in the house (cool and humid);
• an adequate wardrobe for the child (in any season - both winter and summer - it is extremely dangerous to overheat the baby);
• frequent walks in the fresh air;

Sometimes it happens that a small child, due to an infectious disease of the respiratory tract, experiences involuntary difficulty breathing. The conducted research can frighten parents, because their baby is diagnosed with false croup. This pathological condition is quite dangerous, since in the absence of adequate therapeutic measures it can end fatal. To prevent this from happening, you should understand in more detail the causes that provoke the pathology, its symptoms and the main methods of treatment.

False croup in children: features of the disease

The disease false croup is not considered clinical practice true. Most likely, this condition can be called a syndrome that occurs due to an infectious lesion of the larynx and is characterized by the appearance in children of hoarseness of the voice, barking, dry cough and unexpected attacks of suffocation. The disease is always associated with the development of an inflammatory process in the area of ​​the larynx, on its mucous membrane. False croup in children it is characterized by the appearance in the throat, in the area vocal cords, swelling associated with what is happening there catarrhal symptoms. In concept of this disease included several species, having an infectious etiology.

Doctors call the following types of this otolaryngeal disease false croup:

• stenosing laryngitis. Acute inflammation larynx, capable of severe cases spread to the trachea and bronchi. Usually develops after a bacterial type of microorganism joins a viral infection;
• subglottic laryngitis. The pathological process is localized directly in the subvocal space. Depends on the characteristics of the anatomical structure of the larynx in children;
• subglottic laryngitis. The main area of ​​inflammation in this form of pathology is the subglottic region. This localization is associated with its filling not with elastic tissues, but with loose fiber, which does not give it a tight fit and makes it easier for pathogenic microorganisms to penetrate inside.

False croup in a child can occur once, but most often this pathological phenomenon is characterized by episodic bursts that are associated with the entry of any, even the most harmless, infection into the baby’s body. In clinical practice, there have been cases of repeated development of such an unpleasant and dangerous syndrome even with a common runny nose. This disease It is seasonal and most often the disease strikes children in the autumn and winter, but sometimes it is diagnosed in children in the summer.

Types and types of false croup in children

The classification of this rather dangerous substance in children depends on several factors and helps specialists in choosing proper treatment. False croup is of two types - bacterial and viral. This division of pathology is directly related to the nature of the origin of the disease. Also, false-type croup is usually classified according to the presence of complications into complicated and uncomplicated.

But most often in clinical practice in children, what is considered false croup, is divided according to the degree of development of stenosis in the larynx:

1. Compensated. Signs of pathology are minimal, there is only inspiratory shortness of breath, characterized by difficulty in breathing. It appears only after physical activity or when the baby is very restless;
2. Subcompensated. Inspiratory dyspnea can occur in a child even when he is at rest;
3. Decompensated. Shortness of breath becomes pronounced and very severe. A baby with this variety pathological condition Paradoxical breathing is often observed, in which a reverse movement of the chest occurs, that is, it increases as you exhale and decreases as you inhale;
4. Terminal. With this type of laryngeal stenosis, young patients almost always develop severe hypoxia ( oxygen starvation), almost always leading to the death of the child.

As can be seen from the above classification of the disease, laryngitis with stenosis in children, called false croup in medical circles, is a very dangerous pathological condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Causes of false croup in childhood

Problems associated with pathological swelling of the larynx worry many parents, which is why it is worth understanding what causes false croup in very young children and whether it is possible to avoid the appearance of this syndrome in the baby. The main reason that provokes in babies the development of this negative syndrome of “interception” of breathing, which accompanies some ENT diseases, is anatomical structure their upper respiratory tract. The baby’s larynx and trachea still have an increased softness of structure, so the edematous tissues surrounding them easily press on the weak breathing tubes, thereby blocking the flow of air into the lungs.

This is the main cause of false croup in children, but there are also a number of certain anatomical and physiological features that can short time lead to the fact that an infectious disease of the larynx will end with this negative syndrome.

Experts note the following risk factors that are unique to young patients:

• functional immaturity of some reflexogenic zones, in which the parasympathetic nervous system temporarily becomes dominant. It is responsible for slowing down physiological processes such as breathing. With age, by the age of 6 children, their maturity begins, and the threat of developing a pathological condition after any cold recedes;
• small diameter, softness and pliability of the cartilaginous skeleton of the larynx, which contributes to its regular compression by surrounding edematous tissues;
• its narrow lumen and funnel-shaped shape;
• increased excitability of the muscular corset located in the immediate vicinity of the glottis;
• excessive looseness of the mucous membrane, associated with a minimal amount of elastic fibers, which are penetrated by many blood vessels;
• disproportionate size and high location of the vocal cords.

But not all children are susceptible to the development of a pathological condition of the larynx, although its anatomical and physiological structure is the same for all children. Bound this factor with the fact that in order for false croup to develop, the reasons must be accompanied by a number of negative features. They increase the likelihood of swelling in the larynx area, which is dangerous for a small child.

The main risk factors provoking the occurrence of a pathological syndrome are considered to be the presence of a tendency in the baby to allergic reactions, trauma or paratrophy suffered during birth (excess weight of the baby associated with improper feeding).

False croup: symptoms and manifestations in children

The disease begins against the background of a cold, usually on the 2-3rd day of an acute inflammatory process in the larynx. The initial stage of this pathological syndrome, which occurs with the development of swelling in the upper respiratory tract, is characterized by the appearance of the main symptoms in the evening or at night. When false croup begins in young children, the symptoms are quite mild, but any parent should know them. This will make it possible to promptly notice the development of the disease and contact a specialist for emergency care. medical care, which can save a baby’s life.

Types of disease

First warning signs, indicating the onset of a pathological process in the larynx area are:

• dry and rough cough of a croaking or barking nature;
• shortness of breath due to the inability to take a normal breath;
• shallow, noisy and very rapid breathing.

This triad of signs is the most characteristic of false croup. It is from this that one can promptly suspect the development of the disease. In addition to specific manifestations, attention should also be paid to general symptoms. As leading otolaryngologists note, it consists in the fact that a sick child becomes restless and whiny, often taking a forced body position in which negative symptoms are not so strongly felt. Experts also note that in some cases there may be fever and an increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C. Clinical manifestations of this pathology directly depend on the stage of development of laryngeal stenosis in a particular clinical case.

Their characteristics can be seen in the table:

The symptoms of false croup listed in the table in children arise and progress when therapeutic and preventive measures are ignored or serious errors are made in their implementation. If parents are attentive to the health of the baby and notice the appearance of any abnormalities in it, such a development of events, ending in death for the baby, can be completely avoided. All that is needed for this is to promptly treat colds, as well as those that can provoke an attack of false croup in the baby. You should also remember the first alarming symptoms indicating the onset of a pathological condition. This will make it possible to promptly call a doctor and take emergency measures to save the child’s life.

Diagnosis of false croup

Identifying a negative phenomenon affecting the glottis area does not pose any problem for an experienced specialist. In order to detect swelling in a child’s throat, the doctor only needs to conduct a primary examination based on the patient’s symptomatic complaints. visual inspection throat using a laryngoscope. Laryngeal stenosis has a very characteristic clinical picture, which makes it easier to detect. The only difficulty is that it comes in 2 forms, to get rid of which completely different treatment methods are used. That is why parents often ask the question of how to identify false croup in a child without confusing it with another disease.

Otolaryngologists explain that this requires differential diagnosis. Only with its help can one exclude the more dangerous true form of the disease, the development of which is provoked by diphtheria. All studies must be carried out very quickly, since in these pathological conditions associated with laryngeal edema, minutes count.

Diagnosis of false croup in children is performed using the following methods:

• microscopic and bacteriological examination of a throat smear, including bioculture and PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which makes it possible to most accurately identify the pathogenic causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to antibiotics;
• ELISA ( linked immunosorbent assay blood). Makes it possible to identify the pathogen by detecting specific antibodies in the biomaterial;
• study of acid-base status and gas composition blood, helping to identify the level of redox reactions in the body and the ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide content in it. These tests are necessary to assess the degree of hypoxia (oxygen starvation).

From instrumental research methods with differential diagnosis For laryngeal stenosis, farinogo- and laryngoscopy are used. In the event that a specialist suspects the development of complications, little patient Rhinoscopy, otoscopy and radiography are performed. Treatment of false croup in children can be prescribed only after the doctor has received all test results and confirmed the diagnosis.

How and with what to treat false croup in children: medications, medications, inhalations

The main therapeutic goal in this pathological condition is to relieve laryngeal stenosis, as well as eliminate swelling and inflammation from its mucous surface. If a child is diagnosed with false croup, treatment should be prescribed by a qualified physician and carried out under his direct supervision. In addition to the use of certain therapeutic measures that can completely stop the disease, doctors advise completely eliminating the influence of negative factors that provoke an attack on the body.

Important! What to do if a child has false croup. All therapeutic measures for this disease should be prescribed to children only by a qualified doctor. Any self-medication can lead to tragic consequences, so if you notice the first signs of alarming symptoms in your baby, you must call an ambulance.

First aid for false croup in children consists of the following activities:

• calm down a frightened child. Any negative emotions, screaming and crying will only aggravate the serious condition and cause new spasms;
• provide free access to fresh air. To do this, open the windows in warm weather, and in cold weather a window will suffice;
• Give the baby any warm drink with a liquid temperature in the range of 38-40 °C. It can be this or juice diluted with water. If the baby cannot drink on his own, you should feed him with a spoon;
• give the child an age-appropriate dosage of any antiallergic antihistamine, for example Claritin, or Tavegil;
• make hot baths for your hands and feet, ensuring blood flow from the throat and inhalation with a soda solution (a teaspoon of soda per liter of water).

Such emergency care for false croup in children should be known to all parents, since thanks to it it is possible to prevent the onset of asphyxia before the doctors arrive. After the baby is admitted to the hospital and the doctor confirms the diagnosis, he will be prescribed a course of treatment.

Features of drug therapy

Important! If the doctors who come to the call recommend placing the child in a hospital, under no circumstances should you refuse. In most cases effective treatment This pathology is only possible in a hospital setting.

Therapeutic measures are prescribed to each child individually and depend on the diagnostic results, which help to determine the degree of development of the pathology. There are also general prescriptions for severe laryngeal stenosis. In no case should we forget that the listed medications should not be used independently, without consulting a doctor, as this can lead to serious consequences, and even provoke death in the child:

• glucocorticoids. Doctors almost always prescribe Pulmicort. For false croup in children, it is considered very effective and is administered rectally, by injection or orally;
• antispasmodics. No-shpa helps children best, which comes first in the doctor’s prescriptions;
• antihistamines. In this group of drugs, preference is given to Diphenhydramine, Suprastin or Fenistil;
• sedatives, sedatives. The most harmless among them is considered to be valerian extract, which is prescribed to children;
• carried out with humidified, medical oxygen.

If the pathology is of a bacterial nature, and against its background develop infectious complications, are required to appoint antibacterial drugs, and for a viral one – . False croup is also treated with bronchodilators. It is also necessary to take into account how cough syndrome is relieved in this disease. Here, with an unproductive, dry and barking cough, preference is given to antitussive drugs, and if there is copious sputum, experts prescribe intravenous administration of calcium gluconate.

When the above course of conservative therapy is unsuccessful, resort to surgical intervention, which involves tracheostomy (dissection of the trachea) or intubation (insertion of a special tube into the larynx to facilitate air access).

Treatment of false croup in children at home: traditional medicine recipes

Many parents are concerned about the question of whether, with such a pathological condition, it is possible to carry out therapeutic measures at home without going to the hospital for this. For the most part, the answer from otolaryngologists is negative, since acute attack false croup in children
stops only in inpatient conditions. But if the pathological condition occurs in a child for the first time, and is not accompanied by pronounced symptoms or any complications, such a therapeutic approach is quite acceptable.

Komarovsky, a recognized pediatrician and famous TV presenter, also considers false croup possible. But, as he notes, only after the necessary diagnostic studies, and the doctor prescribing the appropriate medication course. Recipes traditional medicine not only effective, but also safe, as they do not cause addiction or develop serious consequences. Despite this, they cannot be used as monotherapy for childhood laryngeal stenosis.

Treatment of false croup at home using folk remedies is only permissible in combination with traditional medicines. Only such therapy can be effective in stopping the pathological phenomenon.

The following can provide effective help with false croup in children: healing potions prepared according to folk recipes:

• Peppermint infusion is intended for sprinkling the baby's throat. To prepare it, you need to pour 250 ml of boiling water into a tablespoon of chopped herbs. The product is infused in a glass jar covered with a towel for half an hour, after which it is filtered and used to irrigate the baby’s neck after each meal;
• decoction of herbal collection treats inflammation and swelling of the pharynx from the inside. Mix the composition from 1 part each of crushed licorice root, coltsfoot leaves and plantain. A teaspoon of the prepared composition is placed in a small bowl, poured with a glass of boiling water and kept for 20 minutes in a water bath. Drink this decoction warm, 100 ml three times a day.

The given recipes effectively help in treatment, but they cannot be used if false croup occurs in children under one year of age. We should also not forget that to achieve positive results with the help of these means it is possible only in the initial stages of development of the pathological condition.

Consequences of the disease

At timely diagnosis With the disease and an adequate course of therapy, the prognosis will be positive, which cannot be said about completely ignoring the inflammatory process. In this case, the consequences of false croup can be disastrous.

After pathogenic bacterial microflora joins the inflammatory process occurring in the area of ​​the glottis, a purulent film begins to form in the larynx.

Against this background there arise the following complications false croup:

• obstructive bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• purulent meningitis.

All of them pose a direct threat not only to the health, but also to the life of the baby. In order to prevent such a development of the situation, it is necessary not only to take all measures for the timely detection and treatment of the pathological condition, but also to prevent it.

Prevention of false croup in children and adolescents

When a young child has a tendency to colds, he has a tendency to regular relapses of laryngeal stenosis. Mothers of such babies need to have a humidity tester, a humidifier and an inhaler at home. They will help to promptly prevent the development of another attack in the baby. Also, parents of children at risk for developing this pathological syndrome should know what measures should be taken to prevent its occurrence.

Prevention of false croup in children is as follows:

• the child’s adherence to a daily routine that allows sufficient time for sleep;
• mandatory hardening of the baby, which includes walking barefoot, cold and hot shower and other general strengthening activities;
• proper nutrition. Children should eat foods that contain sufficient quantities of vital microelements, minerals and vitamins;
• prevention of development viral diseases. To achieve this goal, it is enough not to visit crowded places. This advice becomes especially relevant during mass epidemics.

To strengthen the baby's throat, some parents give him small pieces ice for resorption. But it should not be ordinary, but therapeutic. Getting this kind of ice is not difficult at all. It is enough to freeze decoctions of those herbs that have an anti-inflammatory effect, such as calendula, sage or chamomile.

By following all these recommendations, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a pathological condition even in those children who are prone to its development. The above preventive measures it is necessary to closely study until the child is five years old, since in children 4-5 years old such pathology of the larynx occurs in exceptional cases. This is due to the age-related increase in the trachea, and at the same time its lumen.

Informative video

False croup is enough serious pathology, which is most often found in childhood. This anomaly is characterized by laryngeal stenosis and can lead to very dangerous consequences. To prevent this from happening, the first signs of illness should be a reason to visit a doctor.

False croup in children

This term refers to an inflammatory lesion of the larynx, which is characterized by swelling of its subglottic area.

As a result, a person develops stenosis and the upper respiratory tract becomes clogged.

This disease is characterized by the appearance of a barking cough, hoarse voice and shortness of breath. The severity of the pathology depends on the level of damage and constantly changes throughout the day.

Most often, stenosis appears at 2-4 years of age. However, sometimes this condition is observed in children under one year of age. After 5 years, the frequency of pathologies decreases significantly, which is associated with age characteristics structures of the larynx.

Stages

There are several stages of development of stenosis:

1. The first degree is called compensated stenosis. The child remains conscious, but has increased anxiety. With anxiety, inspiratory shortness of breath appears, making it difficult to inhale. Also observed. In a calm state, even breathing and hoarseness in the voice are observed. The skin retains its color.
2. The second degree is a subcompensated stenosis. General state not very severe, but the child experiences increased anxiety and sleep disturbances. Calm breathing replaced by seizures rough cough. This condition is accompanied by an increase in symptoms of inspiratory dyspnea. Hoarseness or hoarseness appears. The skin turns pale, with the exception of the nasolabial triangle, which takes on a blue tint.
3. The third degree is called decompensated stenosis. This is a very serious condition, during the development of which the baby becomes agitated or lethargic. Impaired consciousness may occur. Inhalations are accompanied by a depression of the chest. At the same time, the exhalation is shortened. This degree is characterized by pallor of the epithelium and mucous membranes, sometimes they acquire an earthy tint. The tips of the fingers turn blue, cold sweat appears.
4. The fourth degree represents a state of asphyxia. This is an extremely serious condition in which loss of consciousness and dilated pupils are observed. There is also a risk of seizures. Breathing becomes shallow and silent. The skin takes on a blue tint.

The photo shows the degree of laryngeal stenosis

Causes

The main causes of false croup in children include the following:

1. . The appearance of a barking cough can be caused by measles, parainfluenza, diphtheria, and whooping cough viruses. Once infected, they multiply in the larynx and can cause stenosis.
2. . Wool, household allergens, and food can cause laryngeal spasms in children.
3. Anatomical structure. A child may have a congenital condition, which is characterized by a loose structure of the mucous membranes. This significantly increases the risk of swelling. There may also be a thickening of the fatty layer of the larynx, which increases the risk of narrowing of its lumen.
4. Reception medications. Children should be treated with throat sprays very carefully. A stream of the drug, which is directed into the oral cavity, can provoke the appearance of a reflex spasm.
5. Stressful situations. When false croup appears, any stress can lead to a significant deterioration in the baby’s condition. Nervous system children is not as perfect as adults. That's why she reacts inadequately to any external factors. Therefore, during illness, the child needs to be provided with maximum rest.

Provoking factors

The following viruses can cause laryngeal stenosis:

• flu;
• rhinovirus;
• measles;

During development infectious process the mucous membrane swells as a result of the inflammatory process and the amount of mucous secretions increases. As a result, a spasm occurs muscle tissue, the space of the larynx narrows and breathing is impaired.

Symptoms

Signs of false croup occur during acute infections on about 2-3 days. The following symptoms appear:

• severe barking cough;
• wheezing when breathing;
• increased anxiety;
• up to 40 degrees;

As the disease progresses, symptoms increase. Yes, on initial stage developmental signs do not cause any particular inconvenience. At the second stage, the manifestations increase, breathing problems arise, wheezing, insomnia and minor symptoms appear.

With the development of the third degree of pathology, noticeable shortness of breath, severe cough, drowsiness, and muffled heart sounds appear. In advanced cases, the child even loses consciousness.

The severity of the disease varies throughout the day. However, the most dangerous time for a sick baby is night. It is during this period that stenosis manifests itself most strongly, increases and provokes a state of panic, severe shortness of breath and cough.

First aid

Before arrival emergency care you need to do the following:

1. Calm the baby and do not show him fear. A state of increased arousal leads to a worsening of the condition.
2. Open a window to provide fresh air. In this condition, the child experiences a lack of oxygen.
3. Make the indoor air warm and humid. A humidifier can help with this. If it is not there, you should place pots with hot water, hang wet towels.
4. If you have an inhaler, you can inhale using a soda solution. This will help make the mucus thinner and easier to remove.
5. Give your child plenty to drink to avoid dehydration.
6. At normal temperature You can do foot baths. This will help distract the child and make him more comfortable, since there are many nerve endings on the feet.

How to provide first aid during an attack of false croup, watch our video:

Diagnostics

To identify pathology, you need to conduct a detailed examination, which includes the following procedures:

• analysis of the clinical picture of the disease;
• examining the child and listening to the respiratory system;

To assess the severity of pathology and identify possible complications carry out the following studies:

• radiography of the sinuses and lungs;
• rhinoscopy.

To make sure that the croup is false, the larynx is examined. If the reason this state is diphtheria, there is a characteristic coating on the walls of the throat.

The photo shows the throat with true and false croup

Treatment algorithm

To cope with pathology, it is very important to choose complex therapy. This should be done by the attending physician, depending on the clinical picture of the disease.

Medication

In case of stenosis of 1-2 degrees, the baby is hospitalized in infectious diseases department. Pathology of 3-4 degrees requires placement of the child in the intensive care unit.

For severe stenosis, the following drugs are prescribed:

1. - drugs such as and can be administered parenterally, orally or rectally.
2. Antispasmodic drugs - the doctor may prescribe them.
3. Antihistamines– , diphenhydramine, .
4. Sedative medications– bromides, valerian extract.
5. Oxygen inhalations.
6. – such remedies are indicated for the bacterial nature of the disease.
7. – used for viral croup.
8. Bronchodilators - this category includes solutan, bromhexine.
9. Antitussives - prescribed for non-productive cough.
10. Calcium gluconate - this drug administered intravenously at large cluster sputum.

If conservative therapy does not give the desired results, intubation and tracheostomy are indicated.

Inhalations

The most simple method pathology therapies are:

1. An effective method of treatment is the use of alkaline mineral waters. To do this, pour 2-4 ml of liquid into the device and do the procedure for 10 minutes. Carry out such inhalations 3-5 times a day.
2. A good method of therapy is inhalation using salbutamol, aminophylline,. In this case, the drug in the required dosage must be mixed with 2 ml of saline solution. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times a day.
3. An effective method of treatment is inhalation administration of cromohexal.

Homeopathy and folk remedies

Unconventional remedies must be used with great caution. Using honey or citrus fruits can only worsen the child's condition. For false croup, it is useful to drink warm milk mixed in equal parts with mineral water. You can also put mustard plasters on your feet.

Dr. Komarovsky tells how to treat false croup:

A fairly common syndrome during a viral or, less commonly, bacterial infection respiratory tract is false croup in children. Its danger lies in the rapid and sometimes lightning-fast development, the need to take certain measures even before the arrival of the medical team. Children from one to 5 years of age are most susceptible to it, especially those who have had birth trauma, hypoxia during childbirth or artificially fed.

But even absolutely healthy, rarely ill children can suffer from false croup: an excessive immune response to the introduction of certain viruses and bacteria into the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs is assumed.

False croup is a lack of air intake into the child's body, caused by a narrowing of the glottis due to edema. A child’s larynx is narrow (from 0.5 cm), and during infection its walls thicken and swell, which significantly reduces the lumen of the windpipe. Increased mucus production in response to infection also reduces the diameter of the airway. In addition, a reflex spasm of the ligaments is often associated, which makes it difficult for air to enter the lungs.

The causes of false croup are catarrhal diseases: ARVI, and parainfluenza (most often), scarlet fever, . If microbes from the tonsils penetrate into the larynx during a sore throat, false croup of bacterial origin may develop. It occurs less frequently than viral cereals, but is no less difficult to tolerate.

Children prone to allergies are predisposed to developing croup during an infectious disease.

Important! Unlike true croup, when an obstacle to the movement of air is created by dense diphtheria films blocking the throat, false croup occurs precisely because of the narrowing of the glottis.

Most often, false croup in children is an acute and ongoing condition. Subacute (gradually developing) course is observed in children with chronic processes - tonsillitis, adenoids, nasal polyps, diseases of the oral cavity. In this case, the symptoms of the disease are not detected immediately, but appear gradually, the body adapts to new conditions before the condition becomes more complicated. Therefore, laryngeal stenosis is often not detected immediately. Children with a clear picture of croup in subacute development feel satisfactorily when, in the acute course, the condition is severe.

False croup in children: symptoms and treatment

Symptoms of false croup and stages of development of the syndrome

The main sign is that the likelihood of development with respiratory disease false croup is large, - respiratory failure. The slightest signs of shortness of breath should alert parents, force them to be on alert, and take preventive measures.

Croup can occur suddenly, develop quickly, and in a short period of time go from a mild illness to a severe irreversible condition. But in most cases before terminal stage does not reach, from the bright manifestations of the disease the body returns to its original state just as quickly. But for this you need to know the symptoms and be able to help the child in time.

False croup occurs in 4 stages. If timely measures are taken, negative dynamics can be stopped at stages 1–3. Symptoms of the disease are shown in the table.

Stage I. Compensation

Features of breathing: shortness of breath only during emotional or physical activity. It is expressed not so much by increased breathing, but by lengthening the inhalation, the disappearance of the pause between inhalation and exhalation.

Feeling satisfactory, symptoms of the underlying disease (fever, cough, runny nose, etc.)

Outcome: Recovery or transition to the second stage.

Stage II. Subcompensation

Features of breathing: shortness of breath, even at rest, rapid breathing. Inhalation is difficult and accompanied by wheezing. To ensure breathing, auxiliary muscles are activated - the muscles of the chest, abdomen, and when inhaling, the wings of the nose inflate. Cyanosis (blueness) of the nasolabial triangle. Rough barking cough.

The child is restless, touches the collar of his shirt, feels afraid, and cries.

Exodus: Reverse development syndrome or transition to the stage of decompensation.

Stage III. Decompensation

Features of breathing: suffocation, paradoxical breathing - superficial and infrequent, pallor of the skin.

The child is lethargic, apathetic, there is no activity, the consciousness is unstable, confused.

Important! Spontaneous resolution of the syndrome at this stage is rare; urgent assistance is required.

Stage IV. Terminal

Features of breathing: respiratory arrest and drop in cardiac activity.

Increased pallor, loss of consciousness, involuntary passage of urine and feces.

Outcome: Clinical death.

Treatment of false croup syndrome

At the first signs of shortness of breath, it is necessary to take measures to stop the attack and eliminate the conditions for its development. The patient's parents should:

• Call an ambulance immediately - if you suspect croup, the child needs a medical examination and, based on the results, hospitalization or outpatient treatment;
• Create a calm atmosphere around the patient - do not shout, do not even talk loudly, express confidence in your behavior that the situation is under control;
• If the patient is frightened, take the child in your arms, do not leave him alone in the room - nervous tension causes a reflex contraction of the ligament muscles, which aggravates the situation;
• Ensure an influx of cool, moist air - it is best to open a window, even in winter (wrap up the child first) - cool air reduces the volume of mucous membranes, and moisture dilutes the secretion;
• You can carry out inhalation using a nebulizer - inhaling cold steam will improve the child’s condition;
• If an inhaler is not available, the child is taken into a bathroom filled with steam (it cools in the air), where it is useful to perform distracting foot baths.

These simple but urgent measures should help stop the development of false croup and wait for the arrival of doctors.

Important! In most cases, doctors suggest hospitalization - you should not refuse it: only in a hospital setting is it possible to provide round-the-clock qualified monitoring of the development of the disease.

Prevention of false croup

False croup is a disease of young children. This condition can occur in one child more than once, as a relapse during one illness or during the next illness.

And in adults and children over 6 years of age, croup is extremely rare, as is the case in infants under one year of age. To the younger one school age the danger of a severe development of events is very unlikely - the experience of overcoming various childhood illnesses takes its toll.

Since false croup in children occurs during infectious diseases, obviously, what is required is to ensure that the child gets sick less. However, this does not mean that isolation is necessary to prevent infection. In children, whose immunity is rarely associated with infection, the body's reaction to accidental contact with a pathogen, even the most trivial one, may be excessive. And this is a direct road to the croup.

The most important thing is hardening the body. It is necessary to ensure that the temperature change environment, wind or draft did not become a problem or cause of infection. From the first days of life, children should breathe clean air, walk a lot every day, and be active. Warm and dry air irritates the respiratory tract more than frosty air. Nutritious food will provide correct exchange substances and age-appropriate development.

Contacts with peers will teach immune system respond correctly to germs and viruses, most of which will not harm the child. These measures, of course, do not guarantee that the child will avoid croup, but it will be easier for the body (and parents) to cope with it.

Remember what to put correct diagnosis Only a doctor can, do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor. Be healthy!