Croup virus symptoms: what parents should know

Croup is a viral illness affecting the upper airway, often after cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose or mild fever. The cough may sound harsh or seal-like, and it can become more noticeable at night. Some children make a high-pitched sound when breathing in, called stridor. A child with croup may still drink and interact normally when calm, but crying can make the noise and effort of breathing more obvious. Croup is not the same as an ordinary cough, although both can occur together.

Keep the child upright and calm; offer small, frequent drinks if swallowing is comfortable. Stay nearby and watch the breathing rather than relying only on the cough sound. Avoid smoke and do not use hot steam, which can burn a child. A clinician may recommend medicine to reduce airway swelling, while a nebuliser treatment may be used when symptoms are more marked. Do not give cough medicines unless a healthcare professional has advised them for that child.

Get urgent help if noisy breathing occurs while the child is resting, the skin between or below the ribs pulls in, the child cannot speak or cry normally, lips look blue or grey, drooling makes swallowing difficult, or the child becomes unusually sleepy. Arrange a child health consultation if symptoms are worsening, fever persists, drinking is poor, or you are unsure whether the sound is stridor. Breathing difficulty should be assessed promptly.

Ask whether the breathing noise is stridor, whether medicine is needed, how to judge hydration, and what changes should prompt an urgent return. Mention when the cough began, whether it is worse at night, and whether symptoms occur when the child is calm.