What should you know about faux croup?

The term usually refers to croup, also called laryngotracheobronchitis. It often follows a viral infection such as a common cold. A child may develop a harsh, seal-like cough, a hoarse voice, a runny nose, or fever. Most people with croup experience mild symptoms, but swelling can narrow the upper airway and make breathing harder, particularly at night.

A barking cough is a common presentation of croup. The sound alone does not show how severe the airway swelling is, so watch your child's breathing, alertness, and ability to drink.

Keep your child calm and upright on your lap, because crying can make noisy breathing worse. Offer frequent sips of fluid and allow rest. Check them regularly, including during sleep, and follow the clinician's instructions if medicine has been prescribed. Do not use steam or give cough medicines unless a clinician specifically recommends them. A child-health consultation can assess the breathing pattern and decide whether treatment, including a nebuliser treatment, is appropriate.

Get urgent medical help if your child is struggling to breathe, the skin between the ribs is pulling in, breathing remains noisy while they are resting, or their lips look blue or grey. Seek immediate help if they are unusually sleepy, drooling, unable to swallow, or cannot drink. If the cough or fever is worsening, arrange prompt clinical advice even when breathing seems comfortable.

Ask what signs should prompt an urgent review, whether your child needs an examination today, and how to use any prescribed medicine. You can also ask whether the symptoms fit croup rather than another cause of cough, and how much fluid your child should be offered.