First Aid

Cold mornings and warm days can lead to croup.

What is croup?

Croup (also called laryngotracheobronchitis) is caused by common viral infections such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It causes swelling and narrowing of the voice box (larynx) and airways. This can make it harder for your child to breathe.

There is no specific treatment for croup, but if breathing problems are severe, your child will need urgent medical attention.

Croup most often affects young children aged 6 months old to 5 years old.

What are the symptoms of croup?

Croup usually starts with cold symptoms such as fever, sore throat, red eyes and runny nose.

As croup progresses, your child may suddenly develop the following symptoms, often in the middle of the night:

raspy or hoarse voice when crying or talking
wheezing
stridor — a harsh and high-pitched noise when your child breathes in and out
a cough that has a distinctive ‘bark’ sound
chest retractions, in severe cases — when the skin between your child’s ribs or under their neck may be pulled in when they breathe and cough
floppiness, in severe cases — when your child is very weak (fatigued), not as alert as usual or it's hard to wake them

Symptoms usually last for about 2 to 5 days and peak during the second or third night of the illness.

Your child may have a cough that persists for several weeks even after they have otherwise recovered.

Some children suddenly develop croup in the middle of the night, without any other symptoms. Usually, these episodes settle after about an hour. This is called spasmodic croup.

Spasmodic croup is more common in children with asthma, or with a family history of allergy and asthma.

Read about how to tell if your child is sick.

Read about colds and flu in babies and children.

Read more about fevers in babies and children.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

When should I call an ambulance or take my child to the emergency department?

Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance immediately if your child has the following symptoms of severe or life-threatening croup:

Croup can get worse very quickly. It is important you seek medical help if your child shows signs they are struggling to breathe.

Do not drive your child to the hospital yourself if they are severely agitated, have blue-tinged skin, struggling to breathe or very drowsy. Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance instead.

What should I do while waiting for the ambulance?

While you wait for an ambulance:

try to keep yourself and your child calm
do not forcibly change your child’s posture; they will have naturally chosen the best posture that helps them breathe
be alert to any changes in your child’s symptoms

What should I do if my child does not need emergency healthcare?

If your child does not need emergency healthcare, but you are concerned, you should take them to their doctor.

Your child should see a doctor if:

they are younger than 6 months old and have signs of croup
their breastbone (sternum) or the skin between their ribs is drawn in when they breathe
they have stridor (noisy breathing) even when they are resting
they are very distressed or their symptoms are getting worse

Your child should also see a doctor if they have been unwell for more than 4 days with mild croup.

If your child has recovered from croup and their stridor returns, take them to see a doctor.

It’s always a good idea to see a doctor if you are worried about your child’s health.

This information is taken from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/croup

Please do not hesitate to speak to your family medical professional for further information, or if you believe this is relevant to your family.

Wendy Sherwood

First Aid Officer