| When children are affected with croup, they | | | | by boiling a pan of water on a stove in a |
| lose their usual cheerfulness and become | | | | corner of a small room, adding a few drops of |
| irritated. There is a high pitched cracking | | | | eucalyptus or menthol oil. This will moisten |
| noise with the intake of each breath. Some of | | | | the air and help the child to breathe more |
| them develop barking cough. They complain of | | | | easily. In case of a older child, fill a |
| a slight obtuse pain in the wind- pipe | | | | kettle with sprout, half full of hot water, |
| somewhat below its orifice. Slight swelling | | | | adding a little oil of eucalyptus. The child |
| is formed on the outer side of the throat | | | | should be made to inhalr steam ensuing from |
| opposite the same place. It aches a little | | | | this water. This simple remedy helps to open |
| when pressed with a finger. The face seems | | | | the wind-pipes and relieve the congestion. |
| red and looks puffed up. There is fever with | | | | |
| hard and very quick pulse. The breathing | | | | If the above treatment is faithfully carried |
| becomes difficult, frequent and shorter. Some | | | | out, the fever will run its course without |
| children are obliged to remain in bed, while | | | | any trouble and complication or serious |
| others feel better at times and are able to | | | | after- effects. The child can then be placed |
| walk about. Their voice becomes hoarse and | | | | on an all fruit diet for few days. He may eat |
| sharp. | | | | fresh juicy fruits like apple, mango, |
| | | | pineapple, papaya, grapes, pear, peach, and |
| The use of antitoxin for the treatment of | | | | melon during this period. Thereafter he may |
| this disaese may apparently prove successful, | | | | be allowed to gradually adopt a well-balanced |
| but it is harmful in the long run. The | | | | diet, according to his age. The emphasis |
| disease can be prevented by following a | | | | should be on whole grain cereals, raw or |
| proper diet and avoidance of indigestion and | | | | lightly-cooked vegetables or fresh fruits. |
| constipation. | | | | |
| | | | An excellent home remedy for croup is the use |
| The real treatment for this disease, as with | | | | of garlic. Chewing a clove of garlic |
| all other fevers, is avoidance of solid foods | | | | dissolves the membranes, reduces temperature |
| for first few days of the treatment. The | | | | and relieves the patient. About 15 gms. of |
| child-patient should be given only orange | | | | garlic can be used in this way after every |
| juice and water in small quantities so long | | | | three or four hours for a week. After the |
| as the fever lasts. | | | | membrane disappears , the same quantity of |
| | | | garlic should be chewed daily. The croup |
| The child with croup should be kept in bed | | | | patient has no sense of taste or smell and |
| and isolated from others. Cold-packs applied, | | | | merely finds the garlic hot. |
| after every two hours, to the throat will be | | | | |
| effective. | | | | Onion is another effective home remedy for |
| | | | croup. Onions should be roasted on hot ashes |
| If the child's breathing becomes difficult | | | | and juice extracted from them. This juice |
| and he seems to be struggling to get his | | | | should be taken by the patient in doses of |
| breath, immediate action should be taken to | | | | half a teaspoon mixed with equal quantity of |
| provide warm, moist, air to restore the | | | | honey three times daily. |
| normal himidity of the room. This can be done | | | | |