Croup is a viral infection; that causes the larynx or trachea to narrow due to swelling. The larynx goes in to spasm, and the sufferer experiences difficulty breathing; a harsh, barking cough; hoarseness; tightness in the lungs; and feeling of suffocation. Mucus production may also increase, further clogging the airway.

At the beginning, croup resembles common cold. It starts off with congestion, a runny nose, and a cough that develops in to the distinctive barking cough associated with croup. Another feature of croup of is a harsh; wheezing noise that is made when air is breathed In through the constricted windpipe and over the inflamed vocal cords.

Croup is more common in young children and babies between the age of three months and three years, when airways are much narrower than those of adults. Attacks frequently occur at night.

Homeopathic treatment of croup

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat croup but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to cure croup that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of croup:

Aconite – croup from exposure to dry cold northwest wind; cough with loud breathing while expiration; cough dry, hard, barking but yet no wheezing and sawing respiration present; complaints are associated with marked fear and mental restlessness.

Antim tart – it is an excellent remedy for croup; difficult expectoration with much rattling of mucus in the larynx.  Patient gasp for breath at the beginning of every spell of cough; feeling of suffocation with neck stretched out, threatening paralysis of lungs; amelioration by vomiting or spitting of mucus

Arsenic album- croup associated with coryza; dyspnoea and suffocative attacks at night; especially after midnight; croup before or after rashes or hives; patient cannot breath through nose; complaints with much restlessness and thirst, but for less quantity of water; aggravation after drinking.

Bromium – hoarseness is marked for several days; much rattling of mucus with each inspiration and expiration; aggravation by warm air in the room, child wants to be carried, but very quickly, long-drawn out inhalation with rushing sound; great prostration; croup during whooping cough.

Bryonia Alba – mucus is tough in nature which loosens only when patient hawks the mucus frequently. Dry hacking cough; voice rough and hoarse; spasmodic shock towards the upper part of the trachea

Carbo veg – one of the best remedies for croup; face becomes blue while coughing; intermittent small pulse; great perspiration with restlessness; amelioration by fanning or rapid motion.

Causticum – remarkable remedy for catarrhal croup; sensation of rawness and soreness in the throat; great dryness of air passages; attacks of suffocation during cough

Hepar Sulph – rattling chocking cough, coming on or getting worse in the early hours of the morning; cough worse by dry, cold wind, least exposure causes a spell of coughing; cough comes as soon as child lies down at night which is worse towards morning; patient has frequent desire to urinate, rattling of mucus, but no difficulty in breathing; sensation of fish bone in the throat.

Iodum – tracheal and bronchial croup with tendency to torper; difficult inspiration from spasm of throat and from partial occlusion of the lumen of larynx by the formation of membrane; wave like inspiration in jerks; wheezing and sawing respiration

Kali Bichrom. – Membranous croup with expectoration of tough stringy mucus, dyspnoea, wheezing, rattling; expectoration of tough stringy mucus, cough hoarse metallic with loud mucus rales.

Ipecauc -Catarrhal croup; spasmodic cough with constricted feeling and fear of suffocation; Convulsive cough in the evening

Kali brom – it is an excellent remedy for spasmodic croup; sense of suffocation during sleep due to severe spasmodic cough; after one or two hours patient falls asleep and breathes easily and naturally; only to awake again in a similar paroxysm.

Lobelias inflate – remarkable remedy for spasmodic croup, dyspnoea; spasmodic feeling in the larynx, fear of suffocation; constant cough and great anguish.

Sambucus Nigra – pseudo membranous croup; wheezing cough with suffocative attacks just after midnight, and from lying with head low; dread of being uncovered; spasm of glottis.

Spongia – no mucus rales with the croup; cough dry and sibilant and it sounds like a saw; obstructed feeling with difficult sensation; aggravation when lying down before midnight; amelioration from warm food and drink; croup does not extend below larynx.