Tips and treatment for croupīecause croup is a virus, antibiotics do not help. It usually lasts 2–5 days and can often be treated at home. Stridor is a high-pitched sound that occurs when your child breathes in.Ĭroup is very common in young children. The barking cough often begins in the middle of the night and is occasionally accompanied by a noise called stridor. The swelling causes your child to have a barking cough and can sometimes cause difficulty breathing. It is most often caused by a parainfluenza virus. Learn about our pediatric emergency care.Croup is a viral infection that causes swelling of the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). Learn more about children’s services at Edward-Elmhurst Health. Encourage your kids to wash their hands regularly and properly. One way to protect against illnesses like croup is hand washing. If you have any concerns about croup and your child, contact your pediatrician. Is dehydrated (look for few or no tears when crying, peeing less, sunken eyes, etc.).Is very tired, sleepy or hard to awaken.Seems to be struggling to catch her breath.Cannot speak or make verbal sounds for lack of breath.Makes a whistling sound that gets louder with each breath.If you’re concerned that your child's croup is not improving, contact your pediatrician.Ĭall 911 or get immediate medical care if your child: Stay away from cough syrups, which may be harmful.Īlthough most cases are mild, croup can become serious and prevent your child from breathing normally. For spasmodic croup, your child may need an allergy or reflux medicine to help with breathing. If home remedies don’t work, your pediatrician may prescribe a steroid medication or a breathing treatment to reduce swelling in the airway. If the steam doesn’t help, take your child outdoors for a few minutes, or for a short ride in the car with the windows cracked, as breathing in moist, cool night air may help.Sit in the steamy bathroom with your child for 15-20 minutes. Take your child into the bathroom, close the door, and turn the shower to the hottest setting to let the bathroom steam up.If your child wakes up in the middle of the night, try to keep her calm, as being upset or crying can make croup worse.Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer in your child’s room.Most children get better in a few days, and most cases of croup are mild and can be treated at home: In fact, symptoms of croup usually start out like a cold, with a stuffy or runny nose and low-grade fever, then your child may become hoarse and develop a barking cough. The same viruses that cause the common cold also cause croup. If your child has stridor at rest, it can be a sign of severe croup. While it’s most common with mild croup, the danger with stridor is that the airway will keep swelling, making breathing difficult. With either type of croup, your child may make a high-pitched or squeaking sound when breathing in. Your child may be hoarse and have a cough that sounds like a seal barking. It often comes on suddenly in the middle of the night. Spasmodic croup – This type is caused by an allergy or reflux in the stomach.She may have a low fever, although some children have temperatures up to 104☏. Your child’s voice may become hoarse and her breathing noisier. It often starts like a cold that slowly turns into a barking cough. Viral croup – The most common type, caused by a viral infection.The AAP describes two different types of croup: While most episodes of croup are mild, the illness is responsible for up to 15 percent of emergency department visits due to respiratory disease in children in this country.Ĭhildren are most likely to get croup between 6 months and 5 years of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines croup as an infection that causes a swelling of the voice box and windpipe, making breathing noisy and difficult. It can be downright scary when your child wakes up with a barking cough.Ĭroup is a common illness in young children, especially in fall and winter months.
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