Antibiotics do not play a role in treating croup because croup is caused by viruses and antibiotics do not treat viruses. Cough medicines and decongestants have not been proven to be helpful, and sedatives can mask symptoms of low blood oxygen and difficulty breathing.
Croup will likely clear up on its own within about five or six days, depending on the severity of the infection. If it continues past that, you may consider calling your pediatrician to see if further action is needed.
Croup treatment
Your doctor may prescribe a steroid to help with the trachea inflammation caused by croup. In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe certain breathing treatments. However, most cases of croup can be treated at home. Your child will need more fluids than normal when battling croup.
Call Your Doctor If:
Trouble breathing occurs. Stridor (harsh raspy sound) occurs. Croupy cough lasts more than 14 days. You think your child needs to be seen.
Croup usually gets better on its own within 48 hours.
Most cases of croup clear up within 48 hours. However, in some cases symptoms can last for up to two weeks. It is extremely rare for a child to die from croup. There are a number of conditions that can follow croup, such as pneumonia and middle ear infection.
Croup can be mild in nature and may even resolve without medical attention; however, if left untreated, severe cases can eventually lead to respiratory failure.
Although most cases of croup are mild, this common childhood illness can become serious and prevent your child from breathing normally. Contact your child's pediatrician if your child's croup is not improving or if you have other concerns. The doctor will make sure your child is evaluated and treated properly.
Spasmodic croup tends to come on suddenly, without fever. Sometimes it can be hard to tell spasmodic croup from infectious croup. Infectious croup is most common in children younger than age six. Spasmodic croup usually affects children who are between three months and three years old.
Is croup contagious? The viruses that cause croup are contagious, but the barking cough and stridor symptoms aren't necessarily catching. "Kids with croup are considered contagious for three days after the illness or until the fever is gone," Kirkham said.
Croup is very contagious. Your child should stay home from school until after their fever is gone.
No medical treatment is necessary for mild croup, or the virus that has caused it. You can usually manage mild croup at home with the following care: Keep your child calm, as breathing is often more difficult when upset – the more a child is distressed, the worse their symptoms can become.
Croup is caused by a viral infection that leads to swelling of the lining of the airways, particularly the area just below the voice box (larynx). Croup can also be caused by other viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus. Respiratory syncytial virus is a very common cause of... read more (RSV) or an influenza ...
Children between 6 months and 3 years of age have the highest risk of getting croup. Because children have small airways, they're likely to have more symptoms with croup.
Most cases of croup are mild and can be treated at home. Try to keep your child calm, as crying can make croup worse. For a fever, medicine (acetaminophen or, only for kids older than 6 months, ibuprofen) may make your child more comfortable.
How long does Croup last? - Croup often runs its course within 3 to 4 days. Your child's cough may improve during the day, but don't be surprised if it returns at night. You may want to sleep near your child or even in the same room so that you can take quick action if your child's symptoms become severe.
The inflammation is caused by a virus. Croup symptoms generally peak 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of the viral infection begin and typically last 3 to 7 days. Symptoms are worse at night and when the child is excited, exercising or crying.
Diagnosis of croup is based on clinical findings of barking cough, stridor, and hoarseness. Diagnostic testing is typically not necessary. Humidified air inhalation does not improve symptoms in patients with moderate croup. Corticosteroids should be administered to patients with croup of any severity.
Croup can occur any time of day, but it is usually worse at night because the body's natural steroid levels fall at night, making the swelling of the voice box worse.
Croup is usually caused by a virus and often starts out as a cold. The majority of croup cases are caused by a viral infection. For this reason, croup is more common in the fall and winter months when cold and flu viruses tend to spread.
Usually after two or three days, the cough will change from a hard, harsh, barky, dry cough into a congested cough, which typically lasts another few days. Sometimes croup can cause episodes of severe coughing followed by vomiting. The symptoms are almost always worse at night.