Croup

Croup is a childhood condition that affects the windpipe (trachea), the airways to the lungs (the bronchi) and the voice box (larynx).

Children with croup have a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in.

They may also have a hoarse voice and find it difficult to breathe because their airway is blocked.

Take your child to A&E or phone 999 if your child: has severe breathing difficulties has an increased breathing rate (they’re too breathless to feed or talk) or ‘silent chest’ (you’re unable to hear sounds of breathing) has a worsening cough or rasping sound shows distress and agitation has dark, blue-tinged or pale skin the skin around their ribs and chest appears to be pulled in and tight, making the bones of their chest and ribs more visible has abnormal drowsiness and sleepiness has an inability to drink fluids

Contact your GP or, if your GP’s closed, phone 111 if: is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38 °C or above is aged 3 months or older and has a temperature of 39 °C or above your child has a distinctive barking cough your child makes a harsh sound when they breathe in Croup can usually be diagnosed by a GP and treated at home.

Read more about the symptoms of croup and diagnosing croup

Symptoms

A child can get croup at any time of the year, although it’s more likely to occur during late autumn or early winter.

This may be because there are more viruses, such as colds and flu, around at this time of year.

Typical symptoms of croup include: 

a bark-like cough a hoarse or croaky voice difficulty breathing a harsh grating sound when breathing in, called stridor

Stridor is often most noticeable when the child cries or coughs. But in more severe cases of croup it can also occur when the child is resting or sleeping.

Symptoms tend to be worse at night.

Some children have cold-like symptoms for a few days before developing croup symptoms.

These cold-like symptoms can include:

sore throat runny nose cough  high temperature (fever)

Although croup symptoms usually only last for a few days, they can occasionally last up to two weeks.