Croup: A Guide for Parents
What is it?
Croup is common. It causes swelling of the upper airway. It usually affects children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, but can affect older children as well.Croup is often caused by viruses and mostly happens in the autumn and winter months.
What are the symptoms?
Croup causes a barking cough that often sounds like a seal. There can also be a hoarse or raspy voice and difficulty breathing, especially at night. Children may also have a noisy breathing sound called stridor. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and may come on suddenly at night.
How is it diagnosed?
It’s important to seek medical attention if your child is having difficulty breathing or if their symptoms are severe. A healthcare professional will diagnose croup by listening to the story and examining your child.
What is the treatment?
Children with mild cases of croup can stay at home and be given simple treatments such as paracetamol and lots of fluids. In more severe cases, your child may be given a dose of steroids to improve breathing. Sometimes your child might need to be admitted to the hospital for monitoring and other treatments.
Remember, most cases of croup are mild and get better after a few days. If your child is getting worse and having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention promptly.
Use this quick guide to know what signs to look out for in your child.
Reassuring (Green)
- Normal skin colour
- Content or smiling, responds normally, wakes quickly, and has a normal cry
- No crying or strong normal cry
- Normal feeding, normal wet nappies
Some concerning features, get your child reviewed by a medical professional (Amber)
- Pale
- Not responding normally, not smiling, wakes only with prolonged stimulation
- Flaring nostrils, breathing more than 50 times in a minute, aged 6-12 months or more than 40 times in a minute over 12 months
- Dry lips and tongue, reduced feeding, fewer wet nappies
- Temperature higher than 39 at 3-6 months old, fever for 5 or more days
- Swollen limb or joint, not using the limb as they usually would ie. not walking
Seek urgent medical review (Red)
- Pale, Mottled or Blue
- Not responsive, looks unwell, doesn’t wake with stimulation
- Weak or high-pitched, continuous cry
- Breathing more than 60 times in a minute at any age, sucking in between or under the ribs with breathing
- Not feeding, no wet nappies
- Temperature higher than 38 under 3 months of age
- Rash that doesn’t disappear with the glass test
