Croup prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Primary measures of preventing croup involve maintaining personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently, and limiting exposure to patients with croup or other respiratory illness. Prevention for rarer causes of croup include vaccinations for haemophilus influenzae (Hib), measles, and diptheria.

• Croup from rare sources can be prevented via immunization from the following vaccines:^[1].
  • haemophilus influenzae (Hib)
  • Measles
  • Tdap for diptheretic croup
• Personal hygiene and limiting contact exposure:^[1]
  • Washing hands frequently.
  • Avoiding fluid transmission with croup patients.
  • Avoiding coughing and respiratory droplets from respiratory illness indicative of potential croup causes, such as human parainfluenza virus.
  • Limiting contact with children between 6 months and 6 years old.

• Secondary prevention for croup involves hygienic measures to prevent spreading to additional people, such as limiting proximal contact and washing hands frequently.
• Croup morbidity is decreased by therapeutic treatment of symptoms to prevent respiratory failure.
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Epinephrine
  • Intubation and hospitalization for more severe cases

Template:WH Template:WS