Care for a Child With Croup

From Tips and Steps

Croup is usually found in young children. The familiar sound of croup is often described as a seal bark. Most parents can treat croup at home. Be sure to call your doctor for guidance, if needed.


Signs

  1. Determine if your child has croup. Croup tends to occur at night in children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years-old. It can also occur in older children and some adults, but is less likely. The child will have a barking cough and may make a "crowing" sound during inspiration.
  2. October through November are the prime months for croup to appear in children who have had a mild respiratory infection. The child may exhibit cold symptoms followed by a croupy episode at night.

Treatment

  1. Call your doctor, if unsure of the treatment, especially if the child is a young baby.
  2. Place the child in a warm, steamy environment. This usually means sitting in the bathroom cuddling your child until the croup attack ends.
  3. Take your child outdoors to cool air. Cool air may end the croup attack.
  4. Use a cool mist vaporizer to help prevent croup.
  5. Give the child appropriate pain relief medication, if approved by your doctor.
  6. Take your child to the doctor to be seen as steroid treatments may help alleviate the medical condition.

About Croup

  1. Croup is usually caused by parainfluenza viruses (75% of reported cases ), but RSV, measles, adenovirus, and influenza can all cause croup.
  2. Croup may last five to six nights before the attacks end. Call your doctor if the condition persists.

Complications

  1. Epiglottis. This is swelling of the cartilage surrounding the trachea.
  2. Respiratory distress.
  3. Collapse of the lung.
  4. Dehydration.

Warnings

  1. Immediately call 9-1-1 your medical provider if the following symptoms present.
    • The croup is possibly being caused by an insect sting or inhaled object.
    • The child has bluish lips or skin color (cyanosis).
    • The child is drooling.
    • The child is having trouble swallowing.
    • Based on the severity of the symptoms, call 9-1-1 or your health care provider for any of the following:
    • Stridor (noise when breathing in).
    • Retractions (tugging-in between the ribs when breathing in).
    • Struggling to breathe.
    • Agitation or extreme irritability.
    • Not responding to home treatment.


Related Tips and Steps

Sources and Citations

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