What should you know about croup in English?

Croup happens when infection-related swelling affects the voice box and upper windpipe. The narrowed upper airway gives the cough its seal-like or barking quality. The noisy inward breath is called stridor; it may be more noticeable when a child is upset or crying. A runny nose, mild fever, and ordinary cough can occur before or alongside the croup symptoms. Croup often follows a cold, but a cold and croup are different conditions.

Symptoms can sound alarming, yet the level of breathing effort matters as much as the noise. Watch whether the child can speak or cry normally, drink, and remain alert. A clinician can listen to breathing and decide whether treatment is needed.

Keep the child calm and hold them upright or let them sit in a comfortable position. Crying can make the noisy breathing and effort worse. Offer small, frequent drinks if swallowing is comfortable, and check the child regularly, including during sleep. Follow the label or a clinician's instructions for any medicine; do not give cough medicines unless a healthcare professional has advised them for that child. A child health consultation can help distinguish croup from other causes of noisy breathing. In a clinic or urgent-care setting, a nebuliser treatment may be considered when the airway symptoms need targeted support.

Seek urgent medical help if the child has stridor while resting, pulls in the skin between or below the ribs, struggles to breathe, cannot swallow fluids or saliva, becomes unusually sleepy, or develops blue or grey lips. Treat sudden severe breathing difficulty as an emergency. Arrange prompt medical advice if symptoms are worsening, the child is drinking poorly, or fever continues with an unwell appearance. Do not force food, drink, or an examination of the throat when breathing is difficult.

Ask what signs show that the airway swelling is becoming more serious, whether a prescribed treatment should be given at home, and what to do if the barking cough returns overnight. Mention when the symptoms began, whether the noisy breath occurs at rest, how much the child is drinking, and any fever.