What to expect from nebuliser treatment for croup

Croup can cause a barking cough and a harsh, high-pitched sound when breathing in. For more serious airway narrowing, a clinician may give medicine as a mist through a mask. Your child may need to stay calm and upright because crying can make noisy breathing harder.

The mist may feel cool and the mask can be frightening. Staff may check breathing effort, colour and oxygen level before and after treatment. Improvement can be noticeable, but observation remains necessary because the effect may wear off.

Hold or sit with your child in the position that makes breathing easiest, use a quiet voice, and avoid forcing them to lie down. Give only medicines recommended by the clinician. Offer sips of fluid if swallowing is comfortable, but do not delay care to prepare a drink or home remedy.

Keep the child away from smoke and watch for noisy breathing when resting, not only during crying. Follow the discharge instructions and return if the cough, voice or breathing becomes worse after leaving.

Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, drooling with trouble swallowing, pauses in breathing, extreme tiredness, or a child who cannot speak or cry normally because of breathlessness. Seek urgent review if the harsh breathing sound continues while the child is calm or treatment does not bring relief.

Ask what severity signs were found, how long the nebulised medicine should help, which sounds require a return visit, whether another medicine is needed, and how to keep your child calm during recovery.