Croup - An Infection Affecting The Young
Kevin Pederson
Croup is an inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchi. It affects
the voice box due to an infection of the vocal cord. In adults this
disease is known as laryngitis. It obstructs the breathing which makes
this disease severe. This condition should not be ignored, especially
in infants as it may be very dangerous. The inflammation leads to
stridor or noisy breathing, due to an obstruction in the airway,
between the nose and the lungs. Sometimes the underside of the tongue
also swells up. The cough sounds like the bark of a sea lion and
becomes worse at night.
- Some tips to follow
Remove the triggering agents like baby formula, cow's milk from the
house.
Try to eliminate dairy products like cheese, milk, ice-cream and other
substances like corn, wheat and sugar.
- Home Remedies for Croup
Turn on the shower with hot water. Let the bathroom fill with warm
mist. Take your child into the bathroom and let him breathe the warm
steam. This helps in clearing the conjunction and allows the child to
breathe.
Another method is to loosely place a warm, moist cloth on the mouth and
nose of the patient. The warm fumes help in breathing. Do not overheat
the cloth.
Avoid solid foods for first few days of the treatment, instead provide
orange juice mixed with water in small quantities till the fever
disappears.
Apply cold packs to the throat after every two hours. This solution
proves to be very effective.
When the child suffocates, the best thing to do is to provide warm,
moist air to restore humidity in the room. Boil some water and add few
drops of eucalyptus or menthol oil to make breathing easier. With an
older child let him inhale the fumes of eucalyptus oil mixed in hot
water.
The child can be on an all fruit diet for few days that includes fruits
such as apple, mango, pineapple, papaya, grapes, pear, peach, and
melon. Thereafter he can eat a well-balanced diet containing whole
grain cereals, raw or lightly-cooked vegetables or fresh fruits.
Lobelia tincture 5-10 drops mixed with 1/3 cup of warm water should be
given to the child at least two times a day. Children under 1 year
should have a mixture made from 5 drops.
Other herbs like Echinacea, Grindelia, and Yerba Santa in tincture form
is also used. Mix 10-20 drops in water or juice to be had thrice a day.
It can be given in addition to or with Lobelia.
Make a mixture of fresh onion juice, licorice root, honey and vegetable
glycerin. Have one teaspoon or more according to your needs.
You can chew garlic clove as it dissolves the membranes, reduces
temperature and relieves the patient. Chew 15 gms. of garlic in every
three to four hour period, for a week. Once the membrane disappears,
have it daily.
Roast an onion on hot ashes and extract juice from it. Drink half a
teaspoon of onion juice mixed with half a teaspoon honey, thrice a day.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary
measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this
article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it.
The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the
writer.
Kevin Pederson manages home remedies sites such as
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com which can help you in your
daily life with simple and easy
home care remedies. Croup a very common condition usually affects young
children and infants. It can be easily treated by using home remedies.
Find More Free Natural Health Information
Back To:
Natural Health for Babies, Children & Teens
Choose Natural Health Site Map
