Croup is a viral infection that afflicts mostly young children under age six. With croup, the vocal chords swell, resulting in a barking cough some compare to the sounds a seal makes. Since the vocal chords are the narrowest part of the airway, this constriction may interfere with breathing. Although croup is usually not a serious infection, the swelling may make it difficult to breathe. It is important for parents to closely monitor their child when he or she has the croup in order to make the distinction between a non-serious case of croup and a situation in which the child may need emergency medical intervention.

The duration of the croup is typically five to six days. It usually worsens at night, and the symptoms peak at about the second or third night. Croup may begin unexpectedly without warning or may develop from an innocent common cold. The virus that causes croup is just as contagious as the common cold, so frequent hand washing is a good idea to help prevent it from spreading.

The symptoms of croup include a harsh, barking cough and common cold symptoms. A fever, usually less than 104°F (40°C) can accompany it. Your child may have a hoarse voice resulting from the swelling of the vocal chords. The most important symptom to monitor is a stridor, which is the gasping, raspy sound your child makes when taking a breath in.

In a non-serious case of croup, the affected child acts normally, is happy and playful and has a decent appetite. If he or she can sleep reasonably well and has the cough, but not the stridor, then you can most likely treat your child at home, or wait until the next business day to contact your doctor for advice. If your child has a non-serious case of croup, the home treatment is fairly simple. Keep your child calm and provide him or her with lots of comfort.

Sitting in a steamy bathroom helps relieve croup symptoms, as the humidity aids in clearing breathing passages. A cool mist humidifier or vaporizer will do the trick as well. The cool night air also works wonders in clearing the airways. Many children have shown up to the emergency room (ER) with improved symptoms simply because of the midnight outing. Any fever which accompanies croup can be treated with Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.

A case of the croup can quickly progress to something more serious. If you feel that your child's condition is worsening, call your doctor or ER for instructions. If your child is concentrating on breathing, this may signal an obstructed airway. Watch for “indrawing,” in which the child pulls in at the neck, shoulders or ribs while breathing.

If the stridor is getting worse and is bad even when the child is calm, then the croup may have become serious. Go immediately to the ER if the indrawing becomes worse and the child is obviously working hard to breathe. If he or she is pale and can’t cry or talk, or is drooling or has trouble swallowing, this is cause for great concern.

The ER staff will check your child's blood oxygen levels to see how much oxygen he or she is getting. If the croup is bad, the doctor may administer a dose of vaporized epinephrine, which works fast to open airways. Your child may also be prescribed steroids for a short period to help keep the airways open for the duration of the infection.