Croup
Explanation | Symptoms | Treatment | When to seek emergency care | Diet | Activity
What is croup?
Croup is an infection causing a partial blockage of air as it flows through the larynx (voice box). The noise can be very frightening, and your child's cough may sound like a seal barking. When your child breathes in you may hear a harsh, rasping sound, which is called stridor. The child's voice may be hoarse, too.
Croup may appear after your child has had a cold for several days. Croup is usually caused by a virus and may last several days. Sometimes croup comes on suddenly in the middle of the night. It may disappear in as little as a few hours. It may occur more than one time in a child's life.
Symptoms
Because your child cannot move air in and out of his/her lungs easily, you may see some of the following symptoms:
the hollow area beneath the child's Adam's apple in the neck may pull in
your child's chest may pull in when he/she breathes in
your child's face may be pale
your child may look frightened
Stay calm. Croup is frightening to the child and parents. A crying, upset child tends to make the croup worse. Parents can help to relieve croup by being calm themselves, which helps to quiet the child. This relieves the tightness around the larynx and allows the child to breathe more easily.
Treatment
Take your child into the bathroom and shut the door.
Turn on the shower and hot water faucets to make steam. Be careful to keep away from the hot water. Cool mist will work, too, and is safer. If the mist seems to upset the child, stop and calm the child. You may also take the child outside to breathe in the cool night air.
Sit with your child and let him/her breathe in the steam.
Do not leave your child alone.
Have someone start a vaporizer or a humidifier in the child's room. Continue to keep your child's room humidified, especially if the air is dry.
When breathing is easier (10-15 minutes), give your child a popsicle. Later give him/her more clear fluids to drink. This will help keep the throat and airway moist.
Seek Emergency Care:
if your child's breathing does not improve after trying the home treatments for 15-30 minutes
if your child's breathing problem gets worse
if your child begins drooling
if your child has trouble swallowing
if your child becomes restless and cannot sleep
if a bluish color is seen around your child's lips
Your observations of your child are important. Tell the doctor what you have seen and what you have done. This information will help the doctor care for your child.
Diet
Avoid milk and thick liquids. These will make your child's phlegm (mucus) thicker and make him/her cough more.
Give warm fluids -- such as warm apple juice or lemonade -- for coughing spasms, in children over 4 months of age. These warm fluids may relax vocal cords and loosen sticky mucus.
Activity
Activities such as coloring and looking at books together, will help your child stay calm and quiet so he/she may breathe more easily.
Patient Education Program I 1003 8/87
Rev. 8/05
