Croup
Croup is a condition that affects babies' and young children's airways. It's usually mild, but call NHS 111 or see a GP if you're worried.
Check if your child has croup
These are the symptoms of croup:
- a barking cough that sounds like a seal (you can hear examples online)
- a hoarse voice
- difficulty breathing
- a rasping sound when breathing in
Your child will usually have cold-like symptoms to begin with, such as a temperature, runny nose and cough.
Croup symptoms usually come on after a few days and are often worse at night.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Runny nose, sneezing, cough and temperature | Cold |
| Cold-like symptoms, wheezing, rapid breathing, not feeding | Bronchiolitis |
| Cold-like symptoms with bouts of coughing – your child may "whoop" when breathing in | Whooping cough |
How to treat croup at home
Croup usually gets better on its own within 48 hours.
Until it does:
Do
- stay calm
- sit your child upright
- comfort them if they're distressed (crying can make the symptoms worse)
- give them plenty of fluids
Don't
- put your child in a steamy room or get them to inhale steam
- give them cough or cold medicines
Call NHS 111 or see a GP if:
- you're worried
- your child is getting worse
Go to A&E or call 999 if:
- your child is struggling to breathe (you may see their tummy sucking inwards or their breathing sounds different)
- their skin or lips start to look blue or grey
- they're unusually quiet and still
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