What is croup?

Croup is a disease that causes swelling in the airways and problems breathing. Children with croup often have a high-pitched, creaking or whistling sound when breathing in. This is called stridor.

What causes croup?

Croup is most commonly caused by a virus. Viruses that are known to cause croup are:

• Parainfluenza virus
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Influenza virus
• Adenovirus
• Enteroviruses

Croup is spread through direct contact with an infected person or their secretions. The infection starts in the nose and moves into the throat. Swelling affects the area around the voice box (larynx) and into the windpipe (trachea).

Younger children are more affected by croup because their airways are smaller. Therefore, a small amount of swelling can make it really hard for a child to breathe.

Facts about croup

• Croup is most commonly seen in children 6 months to 3 years old.
• The peak age for croup to occur is 2 years old.
• Croup is seen more often in the winter.

Symptoms of croup

Symptoms of croup are not always the same. As the disease moves from the nose to the upper airway, the symptoms can change. Croup may start as a cold. Common symptoms of croup are:

• A cough that sounds like a "seal's bark"
• Laryngitis (losing his or her voice)
• Stridor (a whistling sound when breathing in)
• Fever may be present

Symptoms are often worse at night and wake the child from sleep. Symptoms also seem to improve in the morning but worsen as the day goes on. Most children improve in three to seven days. The symptoms of croup can be mistaken for other conditions and medical problems.

Treatment for croup

More on Croup

Home treatments for croup include:

• Using a cool mist humidifier
• Taking the child into a steamed bathroom
• Taking the child outside into cool, moist, night air
• Drinking lots of fluids
• Treating a fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as instructed by your child's provider (Do NOT give a child aspirin as it can cause a condition called Reye syndrome)
• Keeping your child as quiet and calm as possible to make it easier to breathe

In severe cases of croup, or if your child is not breathing well, your child may need to go to the hospital. Your child's provider may order the following medications to help with the symptoms of croup:

• Steroids (oral medication or injectable medication)
• Inhaled medication/breathing treatment (racemic epinephrine)