A child who ends up with croup has a characteristic bark-like cough along with a harsh sound called stridor while breathing in. Other symptoms that are also present include sore throat, runny nose and fever.
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Croup can be diagnosed by a doctor and managed at home. Nevertheless, if the symptoms of the child are severe and he/she has difficulty breathing, it is best to bring the child to the nearest emergency department.
What are the symptoms?
A child can acquire croup at any time of the year, but it is likely to occur in late autumn or early winter. This might be due to the presence of more viruses such as flu and common cold at this time of the year. The indicative signs and symptoms of croup include the following:
- Barking cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Croaky or hoarse voice
A child can acquire croup at any time of the year, but it is likely to occur in late autumn or early winter. - Harsh grating sound while breathing in (stridor)
It is important to note that stridor is perceivable when the child coughs or cries. In severe cases, it can also occur while the child is sleeping or resting. The symptoms are usually worse at night.
Some children also develop cold-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat, runny nose and fever for a few days before the croup symptoms develop. Even though the croup symptoms typically last for a few days, they occasionally last up to 2 weeks.
When to seek further care
Croup can be diagnosed by a doctor and mild cases can be easily managed at home. Nevertheless, it is vital to seek medical care if the child has the following symptoms:
- Severe breathing difficulty
- Cough or stridor that seems to worsen
- Increased breathing rate
- Agitated and distressed
- Dark, bluish tinged or pale skin
- Fever
- Rapid heartbeat
- Skin around the chest and ribs appears to be pulled in and tight which makes the bones in the ribs and chest more evident
- Unusual sleepiness and drowsiness
- Inability to drink fluids
The child must be taken to the nearest emergency department or call for emergency assistance if these symptoms are present. Take note that some symptoms can indicate a possible life-threatening condition known as epiglottitis which involves swelling of the epiglottis. In some cases, it might also indicate tracheitis which causes inflammation of the windpipe that requires immediate medical care.