Croup is not a specific illness but the inflammation and swelling of the vocal cords (larynx) and surrounding tissue. A virus usually causes it, but bacterial or allergies can also cause croup. The swelling leads to difficulty breathing and a "barking" noise when taking a breath or coughing. Croup is most common in children under age 6.

Symptoms may include:

• Hoarseness, chest or throat discomfort
• Fever
• Barking cough
• Restlessness or fussiness
• Poor appetite
• Stridor - Noisy, high-pitched sounds when inhaling
• Difficult breathing - Flaring nostrils, use of neck and chest muscles to breathe
• Symptoms are worse at night or when crying

What your doctor can do:

• Diagnose croup by listening to your child's breathing and asking about symptoms.
• Swab the throat to examine and identify the germ (culture)
• Order an x-ray of the neck.
• Check to see if your child is getting enough oxygen and enough fluids.

What you can do:

• Take your child outdoors. This often helps breathing.
• Use a cool mist vaporizer, especially in the bedroom, to make breathing easier. Clean it daily with a mild bleach solution to prevent molds. Rinse the unit well.
• Turn on warm water in the shower or bath then sit with your child in the moist air.
• Place your child in a semi-seated position if breathing is made easier
• Try to keep your child calm with distraction and a relaxed atmosphere. If anxious, breathing can be more difficult.
• Offer frequent fluids, except milk, to help prevent dehydration
• Avoid solid foods during an attack since vomiting may occur.
• Encourage rest during acute attacks
• DO NOT smoke, or let anyone else smoke, around your sick child.
• Never give aspirin to a child with croup! It can cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease of the brain!
• If you have a nebulizer, use water instead of albuterol for breathing treatments.

What you can expect:

• Croup can be frightening but it is not usually serious.
• Your child will probably recover in 3-4 days
• In a few cases, a child needs to be hospitalized.
• In the hospital, your doctor may order extra fluids through a vein (IV), extra oxygen, or help with breathing.
• Possible complications include ear infections or pneumonia. Croup often recurs.

Contact your doctor if:

• Attacks occur during the day and with a fever
• Stridor occurs during rest.
• Breathing rate is more than 80 breaths a minute in a newborn or 40 breaths a minute in an older infant or child.
• Breathing is very difficult
• Croup does not improve with 45 minutes of receiving cool-mist treatments.

Contact Lake Area Pediatrics at
(936) 582-5620

CALL 9-1-1:
Seek immediate medical assistance if your child's lips or nails turn blue, if your child stops breathing; if your child cannot swallow saliva, or if your child passes out!