Managing an episode of croup

Introduction

Using techniques to help your child control symptoms of croup can help prevent the need to see a health professional at a clinic or emergency room. These techniques focus on keeping your child's airway open to make breathing easier.

• Keep calm and soothe your child. Anxiety and panic can make symptoms worse.
• Recognize that symptoms often sound and appear worse than they really are.
• Use moisture or cool air.

What is an episode of croup?
Why should you manage your child's attacks of croup?
How can I help manage my child's croup episode?
Where to go from here

Return to topic:

What is an episode of croup?

Croup is a disease that causes swelling and narrowing in a child's voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and breathing (bronchial) tubes leading to the lungs. A child infected with croup may at first seem to have a common upper respiratory infection (URI), such as a cold. The first symptoms of URI, such as runny nose and congestion, usually last about 1 or 2 days. Croup symptoms, such as a barking cough, usually follow and last an additional 2 to 5 days.

An episode, or attack, of croup often occurs at night, with symptoms improving during the day. Because the coughing can occur suddenly and sound severe, the attacks can frighten both you and your child. However, the condition usually is less serious than it appears or sounds. Usually, the symptoms gradually become less severe each night.

Test Your Knowledge

1. A croup attack usually occurs during the day.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Although symptoms can occur at any time, they are most likely to occur or be worse at night.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   Although symptoms can occur at any time, they are most likely to occur or be worse at night.

   

Continue to Why should you manage your child's attacks of croup?
Return to Managing an episode of croup

Why should you manage your child's attacks of croup?

Managing your child's attacks of croup can help prevent symptoms from becoming so severe that you need to visit a health professional in a clinic or emergency room.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Helping my child manage an attack of croup can help prevent coughing and troubled breathing from becoming severe.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Managing symptoms of a croup attack can help prevent symptoms from becoming so severe that you need to take your child to a clinic or emergency room.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Managing symptoms of a croup attack can help prevent symptoms from becoming so severe that you need to take your child to a clinic or emergency room.

   

Continue to How can I help manage my child's croup episode?
Return to Managing an episode of croup

How can I help manage my child's croup episode?

A croup attack usually can be managed at home. To help manage your child's episode of croup:

• Keep calm. An episode of severe coughing and breathing difficulty from croup can be unsettling or frightening. However, it is usually not as severe as it sounds. Staying calm will help reassure your child and may prevent symptoms from becoming worse.
• Use soothing and comforting techniques. If your child becomes upset and anxious, croup symptoms may get worse. For example, crying can make breathing more difficult. Provide comfort by holding or rocking your child. You may also be able to distract your child by reading a book, working a puzzle, or watching television.
• Create moist air. If you have a cool air humidifier, hold your child and let the cool vapor blow directly into his or her face. You can also go with your child into the bathroom, shut the door, and turn on all the hot water faucets to create a moist and steamy atmosphere. Let your child breathe in the moist air for several minutes.
• Take your child outside. Exposure to cool outdoor air often helps open a child's airways, reducing the coughing and breathing difficulty of a croup attack. Make sure your child is bundled up appropriately before going out.

If symptoms improve with these methods, put your child back in bed with the cool air humidifier blowing nearby. Do not smoke, especially in the house. If the episode occurs during the middle of the night, it is a good idea to sleep in or near your child's room until morning.

It is important to keep your child well hydrated. Offer water, noncaffeinated drinks, flavored ice treats (such as Popsicles), or crushed ice drinks several times each hour.

Your child may have recurrent attacks throughout the night. As long as symptoms improve with these methods, even briefly, your child should gradually feel better and you likely will not need immediate medical care.

However, if at any time your child has severe difficulty breathing, call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Symptoms of croup often sound worse than they are.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Croup often causes a harsh, barking cough and rattling sounds when breathing in. These symptoms can sound more serious than they really are.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Croup often causes a harsh, barking cough and rattling sounds when breathing in. These symptoms can sound more serious than they really are.

   
2. You can help manage symptoms of a croup episode by encouraging your child to move around and be physically active.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Croup symptoms are best managed by trying to keep your child calm. Coughing and breathing problems, although not serious, can upset and frighten a child. Crying and anxiety can make inflammation and narrowing of the airway worse, which also makes symptoms worse.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   Croup symptoms are best managed by trying to keep your child calm. Coughing and breathing problems, although not serious, can upset and frighten a child. Crying and anxiety can make inflammation and narrowing of the airway worse, which also makes symptoms worse.

   

Continue to Where to go from here
Return to Managing an episode of croup

Where to go from here

If your child's symptoms do not improve after about 30 minutes, call or visit your health professional. If the episode is very severe or occurs in the middle of the night, consider taking your child to the emergency room.

Return to Managing an episode of croup

Related Information

• Coughs
• Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger