What to know about croup

Swelling around the voice box and upper windpipe changes the sound of a child’s cough and voice. The high-pitched noise called stridor is most concerning when it is present while the child is calm and resting. Croup often follows cold-like symptoms; the [Croup](/conditions/croup/) and [Common Cold](/conditions/common-cold/) pages provide related explanations.

Children can look comfortable between coughs, then become more distressed when upset. Fever may be present, but it is not a reliable measure of airway narrowing. Focus on work of breathing, colour, alertness and the ability to drink. See [Fever](/symptoms/fever/) for fever care information.

Stay calm, comfort your child and keep them upright. Offer fluids often and observe their breathing while they are settled. Follow the instructions for any age-appropriate fever medicine. Avoid smoke and avoid hot steam, which can injure skin and has no dependable benefit for the swollen airway.

If symptoms are persistent, worsening or unclear, arrange a [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/). A clinician may use medicine to reduce swelling; some children with more significant symptoms may be assessed for [Nebuliser Treatment](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/nebuliser-treatment/).

Call emergency services if your child has severe difficulty breathing, skin pulling in at the ribs or neck, blue or grey lips, pauses in breathing, unusual limpness or difficulty waking. Drooling with trouble swallowing or being unable to drink is also urgent.

Seek prompt assessment for stridor while resting, worsening effort, exhaustion or symptoms that are returning after seeming to improve. A barking [Cough](/symptoms/cough/) can support the description, but breathing difficulty determines urgency.

Ask whether your child needs treatment today, how to recognise stridor at rest, how often to check breathing, and what exact changes should lead to emergency care.