Croup and Your Child
Your child has a harsh cough that gets worse in the evening. Now they have woken up gasping for air. Chances are your child has croup. This is an infection of the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). Croup causes the airways to swell, making it hard to breathe. It also causes a cough that can sound something like a seal barking.
Causes of Croup
Croup mainly affects children between 6 months and 3 years old. It's most common in children younger than 2 years old, but it can occur up to age 6. Older children have larger airways, so swelling isn’t as likely to affect their breathing. Croup often follows a cold. It is often caused by a virus and is most common between October and March.
Home care for croup
Croup can sound frightening. But in many cases mild croup can be treated at home with these tips to help ease your child's breathing:
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Don't let anyone smoke in your home. Smoke can make your child's cough worse.
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Keep your child's head raised. Prop an older child up in bed with extra pillows. Never use pillows with an infant younger than 12 months old.
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Sleep in the same room as your child while they are sick. You will be able to help your child right away if they have trouble breathing.
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Stay calm. If your child sees that you are frightened, this will make your child more anxious. This may make it harder for them to breathe.
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Offer words of comfort such as "It will be OK. I'm right here with you."
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Sing your child's favorite bedtime song.
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Offer a back rub or hold your child.
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Offer a favorite toy.
If the above tips don't help your child's breathing, try having your child breathe in steam from a shower or cool, moist night air. Here's what to do:
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Turn on the hot water in your bathroom shower.
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Keep the door closed, so the room gets steamy.
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Sit with your child in the steam for 15 or 20 minutes. Hold your child to reduce the chance that they may get too close to the hot water and get burned. Don't leave your child alone.
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If your child wakes up at night, you can take them outside to breathe in the cool night air (if the weather is appropriate to be outside). Wrap your child in warm clothing or blankets if the weather is chilly.
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When to seek medical attention for your child
Call your child's healthcare provider right away if they have any of the following:
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by the provider
- Feeling tired or lack of energy (fatigue)
- Can't keep fluids down
- Cough or other symptoms that don't get better or symptoms get worse
- Trouble relaxing or sleeping after 20 minutes of steam or cool outdoor air
- Sluggishness or vomiting
- Your child doesn't get better within a week
Call 911 right away if your child:
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Makes a whistling sound (stridor) that becomes louder with each breath
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Has stridor when resting
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Has a hard time swallowing his or her saliva or drools
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Has increased difficulty breathing
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Has a blue or dusky color around the fingernails, mouth, or nose
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Struggles to catch his or her breath
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Can't speak or make sounds
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Can't wake up or loses consciousness
If you need to bring your child to the emergency department, you can expect a healthcare provider to ask about your child’s health history and listen to their breathing. Your child may be given a medicine that can ease swollen airways and other symptoms. In rare cases, the provider may use a tube to help your child breathe.
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© The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. This information has been modified by your health care provider with permission from the publisher.