Croup

For parents who have never heard croup before, the illness can be frightening. Croup is an illness which causes a child to have difficulty breathing inward, that is, getting air into the lungs. Please call us for an appointment if your child experiences this type of cough.

A child with croup usually has little or no fever. The cough of croup is frequently described as barky or one that sounds like a seal barking. This child often can be heard breathing even when not coughing.
Croup is worse at night and in early morning hours. The child is almost always better during the day.

Croup tends to be bad for the first two to three nights and then the children get progressively better. Croup lasts about a week. Encouraging your child to dring plenty of fluids and use of a cool-mist humidifier may help.

Croup can be dangerous and a frightening illness. If you believe your child has croup, call us.