Croup in a Child

Apr 27, 2010
Patricia Voldberg

Croup is a viral infection. - Photoxpress

Croup is a viral infection that affects younger children under the age of six. The main concern for parents is to recognize when croup is serious.

Croup causes the windpipe and voice box to swell. This infection usually lasts five to six days and is more common during the winter months and early spring. It is worse at night, and symptoms tend to peak on the second and third night. Premature children are at higher risk for getting croup.

Symptoms of Croup

Symptoms often worsen when children are upset or cry. Common croup symptoms include:

barking cough
fever
hoarse voice
stridor
common cold symptoms

Croup tends to affect one to three year old children more severely.

Treating Respiratory Symptoms at Home

Make the child as comfortable as possible. Make sure he gets plenty of rest and drink a lot of fluids. Do not use cough medicines, especially for children under two years of age. Give acetaminophen for chest discomfort due to fever. Nevertheless, be aware it comes with its own warnings for young children.

Moist air called mist treatment can be a useful at home treatment and can be used in the following ways:

Use a humidifier in a child’s room.
Have the child breathe through a warm, wet washcloth.
Run hot water in the shower with the bathroom door closed.
Sit with the child in the room for about 10 minutes.
Take the child outside in cool air for a few minutes.

If this is effective treatment for the child's condition you will want to let them sleep as much as possible. You will want to keep the child close by because the episode of distress may resume, and the treatment may need to be repeated.

If symptoms are severe, and are not responding, call a health care provider, which may prescribe medication to help reduce the upper respiratory swelling.

Signs That Croup Has Turned Serious

Children with serious croup can quickly exhibit these signs:

The child has a worried expression.
The child is not interested in play.
The child is concentrating on getting air.
The child will not lie down.
The child has noisy respirations, called stridor.

Monitor Breathing for High-Pitched Noisy Sounds

Monitor children closely and call a health care provider as soon as any of these signs are present:

The child has noisy, high-pitched (stridor) sounds when breathing in.
The child starts drooling or has trouble swallowing.
The child’s lips, skin around the mouth and fingernails are bluish.
The child is very cranky, irritable or constantly uncomfortable.
The child has difficulty breathing.
The child’s breathing does not sound better after a mist treatment.

Because the health care provider will not be able to diagnose over the phone, you will most likely be sent to the ER or other emergency station for an evaluation by a professional. It is essential to calm the child at this stage because crying tightens vocal chords.