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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIn most cases of croup, your child won't need to see a doctor. However, if your child's symptoms are severe or aren't responding to home treatment, you should make an appointment.
Your child's doctor will likely ask a number of questions to help make a diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment. Being ready to answer these questions may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Questions may include:
- What are your child's symptoms? For instance, in addition to cough, has your child had a fever or difficulty swallowing?
- How long has your child been experiencing symptoms?
- Has your child's cough become progressively worse? If so, how rapidly?
- Have you noticed a pattern to your child's cough? For instance, does it get worse at night?
- Has your child had croup in the past?
- Has your child recently been exposed to other sick children?
- Does your child have any other medical conditions?
- Fort GG. Laryngotracheobronchitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/204796489-3/0/2088/366.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00021-6--sc0030_7544. Accessed June 8, 2010.
- Roosevelt GE. Acute inflammatory upper airway obstruction (croup, epiglottitis, laryngitis, and bacterial tracheitis). In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/204796489-4/1010564370/1608/906.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50384-4--cesec10_7443. Accessed June 8, 2010.
- Everard ML. Acute bronchiolitis and croup. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2009;56:119.
- Woods CR. Clinical features, evaluation, and diagnosis of croup. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 8, 2010.
- Woods CR. Approach to the management of croup. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 8, 2010.
- Human parainfluenza viruses (common cold and croup). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/hpivfeat.htm. Accessed July 1, 2010.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 29, 2010.
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