How To

How to Tell if Your Child Has Croup

Member
By Rachel Terry
User-Submitted Article
(1 Ratings)

Your child wakes up in the night with a horrible-sounding barking cough and appears to be having trouble breathing. This can be a frightening scenario, but if you can recognize the symptoms of croup, you can stay calm and help everyone get back to sleep.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Fluids
  • Moist air (humidifier if you live in a dry area)
  1. Step 1

    Recognize the sound of a croupy cough. A croupy cough has a harsh, repetitive sound that resembles the barking of a seal. It's caused by swelling around the vocal cords and windpipe. When the cough reflex forces air through this small passageway, the vocal cords vibrate and produce the barking noise.

  2. Step 2

    Croup usually appears at night. If you hear the barking sound at night and you haven't heard it during the day, your child probably has croup.

  3. Step 3

    Know that there may be a fever. A fever often, but not always, accompanies croup.

  4. Step 4

    Offer him fluids and keep him calm if you determine that your child has croup. Croup responds well to cool, moist air. If it isn't cold outside, take a walk. If it's too cold, place a humidifier in your child's room and read or sing to him until he calms down and falls asleep.

Tips & Warnings
  • Unless you fear something besides croup, don't bother going to the emergency room. They can't do anything there that you can't do at home.
  • If your child's cough is getting worse and doesn't respond well to cool, moist air, call your doctor.

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