Common age for croup: what parents should know

Croup is usually a viral swelling around the voice box and windpipe. A small amount of swelling can make breathing noisier in a young child than in an older child. It often starts after cold-like symptoms and may cause a barking cough, hoarse voice, or a harsh sound when breathing in.

Symptoms can worsen at night and may appear suddenly. Older children can still develop croup, but the sound and breathing effort may be less pronounced as their airways become wider. A cough alone does not establish croup; [Cough](/symptoms/cough/) can have many causes, including a [Common Cold](/conditions/common-cold/).

Keep your child calm and upright, offer frequent fluids, and check them regularly, especially during sleep. Crying can make noisy breathing and distress worse. Avoid smoke and do not use steam or give cough medicines unless a clinician has advised them. A [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/) can assess breathing and decide whether treatment is needed.

Record when the cough began, whether noisy breathing happens while resting, and whether your child is drinking and passing urine normally. Fever can accompany viral illness; use [Fever](/symptoms/fever/) guidance and follow local advice for medicines.

Get urgent medical help if your child has noisy breathing while resting, visible pulling in at the ribs or neck, blue or grey lips, drooling with difficulty swallowing, unusual sleepiness, or trouble speaking or crying because of breathlessness. Do not force food or drink when breathing is difficult. A clinician may consider a steroid medicine or, for marked symptoms, [Nebuliser Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/nebuliser-treatment/).

Does this sound like croup or another airway problem? What breathing signs should I watch for tonight? How should I manage fever and fluids? If symptoms return, when should we come back?