Broward County, FL – The American Academy of Pediatrics published a recent study finding probable causation between COVID-19, specifically infections from the omicron variant, and severe croup in young children. Francis Amador, M.D., medical director of the pediatric Emergency Department at Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital, recently answered some commonly asked questions for parents and caregivers.
What is croup?
Croup is a common illness in babies or young children. Characteristics include irritations and swelling in the upper airways, resulting in troubled breathing, or a bark-like cough with a raspy or hoarse voice.
What causes croup?
There are many viruses that can cause croup, but this study indicates a potential link to COVID-19 infections, so consider getting your child and family members tested if they are exhibiting croup symptoms.
What are the primary findings from this study?
Researchers monitored 75 young patients with croup caused by the COVID-19 infection between March 2020 and January 2022. As 80% of cases occurred during the omicron variant spike, findings indicate this particular variant is more likely to cause severe croup than previous variants.
Will this lead to hospitalizations for children?
Typically young children experience mild symptoms and won’t need to be hospitalized. Evidence suggests the omicron variant is more likely to infect the upper airway than other coronavirus variants, resulting in a spike in croup.
How can you treat young patients?
A treatment plan includes dexamethasone, which is a standard medication for croup even before the pandemic. Only 12% of children from the study were hospitalized and received epinephrine via a nebulizer, just under half of these patients were admitted to the intensive care unit.
What should I do if my child has mild or severe croup?
Mild croup can be treated at home with mist from a humidifier or steam from a hot shower. You should call 911 or seek professional medical care if your child:
• Has frequent noisy inhalations and barking cough at rest.
• Struggles to breathe.
• Experiences increased fatigue or sleepiness.
• Is drooling or unable to swallow.
• Lips or fingertips turn blue.
• Has a temperature higher than 100.4°F for more than three days.
• Exhibits symptoms of mild croup lasting longer than seven days.
To find the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital Emergency Department location nearest to you, visit BrowardHealth.org/Locations.