Information Sheet for Patients

What is Croup?
A child with croup has a harsh cough and noisy breathing. It usually affects children under three years of age. The usual cause is a virus (parainfulenza type1). Before their cough develops the child may have a sore throat, raised temperature, red eyes or a poor appetite. The cough of croup is harsh dry, explosive and barking. The child can have difficulty breathing which is worse when the child is upset.

Why does it happen?
When we breathe, air passes through the voice box (Larynx) and windpipe (Trachea) into the lungs. With croup the voice box and wind pipe become inflamed. The inflammation is caused by the lining becoming swollen and thick mucus sticking to the walls of the windpipe. This causes the windpipe to partially collapse when breathing in. Young children who have small soft windpipes get into the most difficulty. The size and strength of the windpipe increases as the child gets older so croup is less common in older children.

What can you do?
Your aim is to reduce the blockage. Sit the child up. The thick secretions produced by the viral infection dry out and stick to the windpipe. Humidified wet steamy air loosens them and allows your child to clear his airways by coughing. Croup is worse at night because the air is driest at this time. You can moisturise the air most easily by leaving a very hot shower running (however don't put your child under the shower). When the room is steamy simply boiling a kettle should keep the air moist enough. Do not leave the child alone in the bathroom or kitchen.
Antibiotics do not work because croup is caused by viruses.

How long does it last?
The difficulty in breathing may only last one or two days and only happen at night. Sometimes it can last more than a week and occur during the daytime as well. The cough takes a little longer to clear. No permanent damage will result.

When to worry
Call the doctor without delay if:

	Breathing is difficult, especially if your child has not been coughing recently
	Your child becomes pale or blue, the most likely time will be after a coughing spell
	Your child becomes restless, irritable or delirious
	Your child has a high temperature and is dribbling
	You become concerned for any other reason

Do not hesitate to seek medical advice if you are concerned.

What can your GP do?
Sometimes giving a nebulised corticsteroid reduces the symptoms after a few hours but if the symtoms are severe the child may need to go to hospital for further observation and treatment.

Further Information: For the latest information on this condition and support or selfhelp Groups call the Health Information Service on 0800 665544

Back to leaflet index

Back to index