Since the Hib vaccine has been available, the number of cases of acute supraglottitis and meningitis has dramatically decreased. When croup persists or recurs frequently, it may be a sign that your child has some narrowing of the airway that is not related to an infection. This may be a problem that was present when your child was born or one that developed later.
If your child has persistent or recurrent croup, your child's doctor may refer you to a specialist such as an otolaryngologist ear, nose, and throat specialist or pulmonologist breathing and lung disease specialist for further evaluation. Croup is a common illness during childhood. Although most cases are mild, croup can become serious and prevent your child from breathing normally. Contact your child's doctor if your child's croup is not improving or if you have other concerns.
He or she will make sure your child is evaluated and treated properly. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode. Skip Ribbon Commands. Skip to main content. Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register.
Log in Register. Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Croup and Your Young Child. The symptoms of croup may resemble other conditions and medical problems.
Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for croup may include:. In severe cases of croup, or if your child is not breathing well, hospitalization may be considered. This is sometimes hard to tell because the disease fluctuates, and your child may seem better at one moment, and then get worse the next.
Your child's physician may also order the following medications to help with the symptoms of croup:. Home - Conditions - Croup Croup Croup. What causes croup? Other viruses may include: respiratory syncytial virus RSV influenza virus measles adenovirus enteroviruses A child becomes infected through direct contact with a person, or the secretions of another person who is infected with the disease. Sometimes recurrent croup signals an abnormality in the throat or airway, either that the child was born with congenital or due to an injury.
Potential anatomic abnormalities include:. These procedures closely examine the upper and lower airways, as well as the esophagus, stomach and duodenum very top of the small intestine , to try to identify any abnormalities that might contribute to recurrent or atypical croup.
The specific treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis. Many of the conditions that cause recurrent croup can be repaired, and the child will no longer experience croup-like symptoms. Most cases of croup clear up within 48 hours. However, in some cases symptoms can last for up to two weeks. There are a number of conditions that can follow croup, such as pneumonia and middle ear infection.
Read more about the complications of croup. Good hygiene is the main defence against croup, such as regularly washing hands and cleaning surfaces. A number of your child's routine vaccinations also protect against some of the infections that can cause croup.
These include:. A child can get croup at any time of the year, although it's more likely to occur during late autumn or early winter. This may be because there are more viruses, such as colds and flu, around at this time of year.
Stridor is often most noticeable when the child cries or coughs. But in more severe cases of croup it can also occur when the child is resting or sleeping. Although croup symptoms usually only last for a few days, they can occasionally last up to two weeks.
You should take them to your nearest hospital's accident and emergency department or dial for an ambulance. Some of these symptoms may indicate a potentially life-threatening underlying condition called epiglottitis inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis. The symptoms could also indicate tracheitis inflammation of the windpipe , which also requires immediate medical attention.
Croup usually develops as the result of a viral infection. The infection causes the larynx voice box to become swollen and the trachea windpipe to become blocked, and may affect the tubes in the lungs bronchi.
It is sometimes called laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis. The parainfluenza virus is the most common cause of croup. Four strains of the virus are responsible for most croup cases.
These are:. The virus can be transmitted through close contact with infected people, as well as contaminated objects and surfaces. As with many airborne viruses, the parainfluenza virus is often spread by breathing in droplets from infected coughs or sneezes. A GP can diagnose croup by studying your child's symptoms, particularly the sound of their cough. They may also check your child's temperature for a fever and ask whether they have recently had a cold or viral infection.
In some cases, a pulse oximetry test may be carried out. This involves clipping a sensor onto your child's earlobe or finger to find out their oxygen levels. The test does not hurt and should not distress your child, and determines whether your child is absorbing enough oxygen into their blood.
Your GP will decide whether your child needs to be admitted to hospital or whether their croup is safe to treat at home. You should not try to check your child's throat yourself, because it could trigger a spasm sudden narrowing of the airway.
This could cause the airway to swell even more, making breathing even more difficult. In very rare cases, epiglottitis inflammation of the epiglottis or tracheitis inflammation of the windpipe can cause similar symptoms to croup. In these cases, however, your child will usually feel very unwell generally, rather than just having the specific symptoms of croup.
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