If a child has an attack of coughing, fever and shortness of breath, this may be a pseudocroup attack. These attacks usually start in the evening or at night and are very annoying for small children.
Pseudocroup
Pseudocroup is an infection of the upper respiratory tract. This infection is caused by a virus, which can be different viruses. There are children who are extra sensitive to pseudocroup, these children may get pseudocroup more often.
Phenomena
Common symptoms of pseudo-croup are;
- Cold,
- barking cough,
- Hoarse voice,
- Sometimes fever,
- Usually increasing shortness of breath during the evening due to swelling of the upper part of the trachea. A wheezing sound when inhaling is typical.
Contamination and consequences
Pseudocroup is caused by viruses that also cause common respiratory infections. Someone can become infected with these viruses through droplets in the air.
Exclusion from daycare, playgroup or school
With some infectious diseases, a child is not welcome at a daycare center, playgroup or school for a while because of the high risk of infection. The GGD (Municipal Health Service) has drawn up rules for this. With pseudocroup, a child is allowed to come, but it is sometimes the case that a child is excluded due to fever.
Report to the GGD
For some infectious diseases, a treating physician is obliged to report to the GGD that a child has this infectious disease. Pseudocroup does not have to be reported to the GGD.