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Croup is a common upper respiratory illness in children. It is characterized by a barky cough, hoarse voice and noisey breathing that seems to get worse at night. The following handout gives you more information about croup.

Croup is a common upper respiratory illness in children. It is characterized by a barky cough, hoarse voice and noisey breathing that seems to get worse at night. The following handout gives you more information about croup.

 

 

WHAT IS CROUP?

Croup is the narrowing of the air passage through the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe). It is caused by swelling due to inflammation from a viral infection (usually a cold). The narrowing makes it difficult for young children to breathe. For older children and adults, the narrowing can result in laryngitis, which is milder and does not obstruct breathing since the airways are larger.

Croup can worsen with fear, crying, or time if nothing is done to relieve it.Staying calm yourself will help your child.

SIGNS OF CROUP

Your child may have:

  • a cold or fever
  • a harsh "barking" or "brassy" cough (i.e., seal-sounding bark)
  • a hoarse voice or cry !harsh sounds (stridor) with breathing
  • "pulling in" (retractions) of the chest or hollow of the neck with breathing
  • symptoms usually becoming worse at night or naptime

TREATMENT

Talk calmly to your child to reassure him or her. Start a cool air vaporizer or humidifier in your child's room. Then try one of the following treatments:

  • Take your child into the bathroom and shut the door. Turn on the hot water in the shower or tub and let the room fill up with steam. Be careful to keep your child away from the hot water. Sit together in the bathroom and let your child breathe in the steam for 10 minutes. Reading and/or talking to your child will help keep him or her calmer and reduce the work of breathing.
  • In colder weather, dress your child in warm clothes and take him or her outside, go for a ride in the car, or go to a cooler part of the house (such as the garage) for approximately 10 minutes. Continue to talk calmly to reduce your child's anxiety.
  • Give your child cool, clear liquids to drink such as water, apple juice, popsicles, or jello water.
  • Treat your child's fever (over 102 degrees orally) with acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol, Tempra).

WHEN YOUR CHILD'S BREATHING IS EASIER

  • Put your child to bed with the COOL air vaporizer or humidifier directed at him or her.
  • Check on your child every two hours. Some parents will sleep in their child's room.

CALL THE PHYSICIAN IF YOUR CHILD

  • Shows no improvement after trying one or two of the previously-listed treatments.
  • Has "pulling in" of the soft areas around the child's collarbones, between the ribs, or the breastbone with breathing.
  • Is wheezing or has audible squeaky noises when he or she breathes.
  • Is breathing unusually fast.
  • Drools or refuses to swallow liquids.
  • Refuses to talk or make any sound.
  • Has a bluish color.
  • Is very restless and appears to be very sick.
  • Has uncontrolled fever.
  • or if YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

If a child has croup once, he or she may likely get it again with another cold. Children usually outgrow croup by 5 or 6 years of age.
 
 
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