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CROUP, Spasmodic

Categories: Respiratory Diseases

This disease gives the parents a terrible shock if they
have never seen any attacks of the kind. The symptoms which attend the

attack are out of all proportion to the real danger. It is generally the

result of exposure to cold or to the cold wind. Irritating, undigested

food, often causes it.



Symptoms. Usually the child goes to bed perfectly well, or has a slight

cold and wakes up an hour or two later, coughing
nd gasping for breath,

due to a spasm in the wind pipe. The cough is shrill, more like a bark;

the cough is repeated at intervals and soon the patient breathes quickly

and laboriously. It must sit up for it can breathe easier sitting. The

voice is oftentimes nearly or quite lost, or at least only a hoarse

whisper; the face is bluish or perspiring. The spasm lasts for a variable

period, but rarely exceeds one-half hour, sometimes only a few minutes.

The croupy cough and oppressed breathing may last longer than this, but

these too subside after a time, after which the child drops to sleep and

usually rests quietly for the rest of the night. There is a tendency to

recurrence on succeeding night unless obviated by treatment.



Treatment. Preventive. Guard against such children's exposure to cold

winds and dampness, dress them warmly. The living and sleeping rooms

should not be too warm. Do not give them food hard to digest at any time,

especially before bedtime. Foods hard to digest frequently cause the

attack.



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