Croup is an inflammatory condition of the upper airways beneath the glottis, which include the larynx and trachea. Viral Infections are the most common cause of croup. Since there is no causal therapy against these viral infections and croup brings symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and noisy breathing, steam therapy and decongestant medication are often used as symptomatic treatment.
Croup is an inflammation of the larynx and trachea. It is often caused by viral infection. The classic cause is diphtheria, which has become a rare disease since vaccinations are available und widely used. Nowadays croup is more often caused by other viruses affecting the airways. Anyways, any inflammation in the upper airways can cause swelling, which may lead to narrowing of the airway and result in shortness of breath, coughing and noisy breathing.
The causes of croup are various, including infections by viruses or bacteria, irritations of the airway, allergy and acid reflux. The most common cause is viral infection. In times before vaccinations the main cause of croup was diphtheria. Nowadays viruses such as influenza and parainfluenza, rhino- and adenovirus, measles and chickenpox commonly cause an infection and inflammation of all airways, and therefore may also lead to croup. People with viral caused croup may first have symptoms similar to a simple cold, and gradually feel a difficulty in breathing, start coughing and may have noisy breathing and hoarseness. Besides an infection, also irritation of the airways, allergy and acid reflux can result in spasmodic croup. Probably due to intraday variation of cortical levels, croup is normally worse during the night, especially on the first two days after onset. In severe cases a coup can lead to a life threatening shortness of breath and will therefore need immediate intensive care.
The treatment of croup will depend on its cause. However, due to the common symptoms such as swelling of the airway and difficulty in breathing that croup brings with it, steam therapy is often used to improve symptoms. Medications such as epinephrine or corticosteroids can be used to reduce the swelling in case of emergency. However, if the croup is spasmodic, then medication to improve the underlying problem, such as allergy or acid reflux, may be used.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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