Croup and Homeopathy

Ask any parent who has been woken in the middle of the night by a child with a loud, barking cough and gasping for breath and they will tell you that it is a frightening experience. Fortunately most attacks of croup can be resolved quickly with homeopathic remedies.

Croup can be common in children aged between three months and six years. It is usually caused by a viral infection that causes inflammation of the larynx, trachea, bronchial tubes, and lungs. The typical symptoms are a harsh, barking cough, wheezing, and difficulty in breathing. It tends to be more common in cold weather.

Some mild cases of croup may be caused by a bacterial infection or allergies and most children will not have a fever. Croup caused by a virus is often accompanied by fever. In many cases the child may have had a cold or flu just before the onset of croup symptoms. Most croup symptoms will be worse at night and get better during the day.

What causes the symptoms of croup?

During the immune system response to an infection or an allergic reaction, the respiratory passages become swollen, irritated and congested with mucus and fluid. This causes coughing, and the child may become hoarse. The airways are narrowed, and the breathing is difficult and noisy. This creates the characteristic symptom of stridor (noisy aspiration) as the child attempts to breathe in air through narrowed passages. The constriction of these airways is usually accompanied by a high-pitched cough, often described as sounding like the bark of a seal. A croup attack can last anywhere from thirty minutes to three hours.

What homeopathic remedies can be used for croup?

Many parents have found homeopathic remedies to be very effective in treating croup in the middle of the night. The most common remedies used which produce excellent results are Aconite, Hepar Sulph, Spongia and Bromium. If you have the remedy pills on hand, choose the remedy that matches the symptoms and dissolve 3 pills in a small water bottle and give the child frequent sips until the symptoms improve and then repeat the dose as needed. If your remedy is in liquid form give about half a dropper every few minutes.

• Aconite is indicated for croup where the child has woken from sleep gasping for breath and feeling anxious; dry, loud, barking cough. Also indicated for croup brought on by exposure to dry, cold winds.
• Spongia is indicated for breathing that is harsh, sawing and hard similar to a person trying to breathe through a sponge.
• Hepar Sulph is indicated for croup that has a loose sound and a loose cough and is also indicated for croup that is brought on by exposure to dry cold winds.
• Bromine is indicated for croup with a deep, hoarse voice and when breathing in causes coughing, the breathing is hoarse, rasping and whistling and when the child coughs the larynx sounds full of mucus.

It is important to monitor a child with croup throughout the night. An adult should probably consider sleeping or resting near the child. If your child has breathing distress that is not quickly resolved by the above remedies, seek immediate medical assistance.

If your child has a loose cough the following day, give Antimonium Tartaricum which is a great homeopathic expectorant.

If croup becomes a chronic health issue seek constitutional treatment from a registered homeopath. To find a registered homeopath near you visit the Australian Homoeopathic Association website www.homeopathyoz.org.

What other measures can help with croup?

Steam inhalation is quite helpful in relieving the symptoms of colic. One of the best ways to produce a lot of steam quickly is to use the shower. Close the bathroom door and turn on the shower full blast. You can then sit with your child in the bathroom while they breathe in steam as it fills the room. This can be done for up to 15 minutes, and often brings instant relief from congestion. Some parents have found humidifiers or boiling the kettle in a small room can produce enough steam to provide relief. Take care to avoid scalds and burns.

Some parents have found that carrying the child outside to breathe in the cold night air may help to open the airways.

Avoid smoking in the home while your child is suffering from croup. It is also a good health measure to avoid smoking inside the home, in the car and around children in general.

When should you call the doctor?

In most cases, croup can be easily and successfully treated at home. However, if the symptoms become severe, the child will need to be seen by a doctor. Prompt medical attention is needed if:

• The child's fever goes up to 39.9°.
• The child seems pale or bluish around the mouth or fingernails.
• The child refuses all liquids or can't swallow
• The child is drooling a great deal.
• The child's breathing becomes increasingly rapid or difficult.

Severe cases may need an inhalant, such as epinephrine, to reduce swelling and give the child easier breathing. Inhalants have limited effectiveness over time, and care must be taken to avoid undesirable side effects. Oxygen may also be administered in more severe cases. Corticosteroids may be given to decrease pain and swelling.

If a child is hospitalised for further observation or treatment, intravenous (IV) fluids may be given to reduce dehydration. In a few very severe cases, a tube has to be inserted through the nose or mouth (intubation) to keep the airway passage open for breathing. There is a slight risk of injury to the respiratory system during the introduction and the removal of the tube.

Occasionally stridor is a symptom of acute Epiglotitis (bacterial infection accompanied by high fever) which requires immediate medical attention and hospitalisation.

Resources

Australian MIMS website www.mydr.com.au (2008)

Article “Croup” www.merck.com (2008)

Article “Croup” www.kidshealth.org (2008)

Australian Homoeopathic Association www.homeopathyoz.org