False croup in children

The narrowed upper airway can create a harsh, barking cough and a hoarse voice. A high-pitched noise while breathing in is called stridor. Symptoms may become more noticeable at night or when a child cries, because agitation increases the work of breathing. A cold may come first, with a runny nose, cough, or fever.

Croup symptoms vary. A child who is calm, drinking, and breathing comfortably needs different support from one who has noisy breathing at rest, is pulling in at the ribs, or cannot manage saliva. The term false croup should not be used to dismiss breathing difficulty.

Keep your child calm and hold them upright. Offer small, frequent drinks if swallowing is comfortable, and check them regularly, including during sleep. Follow a clinician’s instructions for any prescribed medicine. Steam, smoke, and forceful throat inspection can worsen distress or cause harm. A child-health consultation can help distinguish croup from another airway problem.

Get emergency help if your child has stridor while resting, struggling or tiring with breathing, blue or pale lips, pauses in breathing, drooling with difficulty swallowing, unusual sleepiness, or cannot speak, cry, or drink because of breathlessness. Keep them upright while help is arranged.

Does this sound like croup or another airway problem? What should I do if stridor returns overnight? Which breathing changes mean we should attend emergency care?