What should you know about cough like croup?

Croup affects the voice box and windpipe, so the cough can sound rough, seal-like, or metallic. A hoarse voice and cold symptoms may occur alongside it. Some children make a high-pitched noise when breathing in, called stridor. Symptoms can become more noticeable at night or when a child is upset because crying increases the work of breathing. A barking cough is a presentation of croup, but other airway or chest conditions can also cause cough, including bronchitis or bronchiolitis.

Keep the child calm and upright on your lap, because distress can make noisy breathing worse. Offer frequent drinks and allow rest. Check the child regularly, including during sleep, for changes in breathing, alertness, and ability to drink. Avoid steam inhalation, which can burn skin and does not reliably settle airway swelling. Do not give a cough medicine to a young child unless a clinician or pharmacist has advised it. A clinician can assess the breathing pattern and decide whether treatment is needed.

Seek emergency help if the child is struggling to breathe, the skin between the ribs is pulling in, lips look blue or grey, breathing pauses, or the child is unusually sleepy and hard to wake. Get urgent medical advice if stridor occurs while the child is resting, drinking becomes difficult, or symptoms are worsening. Arrange a clinical review if the cough continues, returns repeatedly, or the child has another condition affecting breathing.

Ask what signs would mean the airway is becoming narrower, whether the child needs an examination today, and which fever or pain medicine is suitable for their age and health. Mention when the cough began, whether noisy breathing happens at rest, and how much the child is drinking.