Croup — advice for parents and carers
How to look after your child with croup at home, and the warning signs to watch for.
Your child has croup — a common viral illness that causes a barking cough and a harsh sound when breathing in. Most croup is mild and settles within a few days. Please read this and keep it handy.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
These mean the airway is narrowing and need an ambulance.
- The harsh noisy breathing (stridor) is there when they are calm or resting, or is getting worse
- Struggling to breathe, or the tummy or ribs suck in with each breath
- Lips, tongue or skin look pale, blue or grey
- Unusually drowsy, floppy or hard to wake
- Drooling, or unable to swallow
- Very upset or restless and you cannot calm them down
Bring them back to the ED or the service named above.
- The noisy breathing comes back after the steroid seems to have worn off
- They are drinking much less than usual, or have far fewer wet nappies
- The barking cough is not settling after 3 to 4 days
- They have a high fever and look unwell between coughing episodes
- You are worried and cannot get advice
The steroid your child was given usually starts working within a few hours and lasts 24 to 48 hours. Symptoms are typically worse at night, so the second night can still be difficult even when the day has gone well. Do not use steam or hot water vapour — it does not help croup and children have been scalded. Keep your child upright and calm, offer fluids in small amounts often, and give paracetamol or ibuprofen if they are distressed or feverish.
Caring for your child
- Keep your child calm — crying and upset make the breathing worse, so cuddle and comfort them.
- Sit them upright rather than lying flat.
- Offer plenty of drinks, little and often.
- Check on them often, including through the night.
- If they were given a steroid medicine, it works over a few hours.
- You can give paracetamol or ibuprofen if your child is distressed or feverish.
What is normal
These are common with croup and usually settle on their own:
The cough often lasts a few days and is usually worse at night. Do not use steam or a steamy bathroom — it does not help and can scald.