How long croup cough contagious

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He's not been able to even think about lacrosse practice, but thanks to starting him on antibiotics, he was thrilled to return to practice today. Check In Online. Croup occurs most often in babies and toddlers.

Croup is usually caused by a virus and often starts out as a cold. There are other causes of croup besides infection. For most croup symptoms, home remedies may be enough. Add moisture to the air your child is breathing by using a humidifier or sitting in the bathroom with the door closed while the shower is running. Cool air can also help to open up the airways a bit; try taking your child outside in the colder months for a few minutes to breathe the cold air.

Make sure your child is getting plenty of fluids by offering plenty of breast milk or formula for babies, and water for older children. Try to keep your child calm, comfortable and well-rested in order to avoid excessive crying, as this can make symptoms worse.

If any of these croup symptoms develop, you should seek medical care. Stridor high-pitched whistling noise when breathing in even when your child is at rest; stridor that occurs while the child is crying, coughing or active is not as much of a concern. Excessive sleepiness, sluggishness or listlessness Finally, if your child has excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing or starts to turn blue around the mouth, nose or fingernails, this is a medical emergency — call immediately.

Complications of croup. About croup Croup is a childhood condition that affects the windpipe trachea , the airways to the lungs the bronchi and the voice box larynx. Read more about the symptoms of croup and diagnosing croup Why does croup happen? Read more about the causes of croup Who is affected by croup? The condition is more common during the late autumn and early winter months. It tends to affect more boys than girls.

A child may experience croup more than once during childhood. Treating croup Most cases of croup are mild and can be treated at home. Read more about treating croup Complications Most cases of croup clear up within 48 hours. It is extremely rare for a child to die from croup.

Preventing croup Croup is spread in a similar way to the common cold, so it is difficult to prevent. Symptoms of croup A child can get croup at any time of the year, although it's more likely to occur during late autumn or early winter.

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.

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. When to seek medical advice Croup can usually be diagnosed by a GP and mild cases can be treated at home. Causes of croup Croup usually develops as the result of a viral infection.

It is sometimes called laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis Parainfluenza virus The parainfluenza virus is the most common cause of croup. Other viruses A number of other viruses can also cause croup. These include: influenza A and B flu viruses the measles virus, in children who have not been immunised against measles the rhinovirus common cold virus enteroviruses the respiratory syncytial virus RSV , which can cause severe breathing problems and pneumonia in babies Other causes Less common causes of croup include: inhaling a small object such as a peanut or a pen cap inhaled foreign body epiglottitis — inflammation of the epiglottis, the flap at the base of the tongue that keeps food from going into the windpipe an allergic reaction to substances such as pollen or dust mites inhalation of irritants, such as chemicals acid leaking back out of the stomach and into the throat acid reflux.

Diagnosing croup A GP can diagnose croup by studying your child's symptoms, particularly the sound of their cough. Differentiating these causes from croup may require further tests. Further investigation If your child is admitted to hospital with severe croup, or if treatment is unsuccessful, further investigations may be needed to examine their neck and chest area for a possible obstruction.

Treating croup Treatment of croup depends on how severe the symptoms are. However, if your child has severe croup, they will need to be admitted to hospital urgently. Treatment croup at home If your GP thinks your child has mild croup, they will usually recommend managing it at home.

Painkillers for children Painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen , are available in liquid form for children. Children under 16 years of age should not be given aspirin. Hospital treatment In severe cases of croup, treatment in hospital may be required. Breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, are a major symptom of severe croup. You should dial immediately for an ambulance if your child is struggling to breathe.

Complications of croup Complications that develop as a result of croup are rare. Airway obstruction If an obstructed airway is not treated promptly, it can lead to: severe breathing difficulty respiratory distress respiratory arrest where breathing stops but the heart continues beating Always phone for an ambulance if your child is struggling to breathe. Secondary infection A secondary infection can sometimes develop following the initial viral infection that caused croup.

A secondary infection can potentially cause: pneumonia , a chest infection which causes swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs bacterial tracheitis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can occur after a viral respiratory infection Other complications Although rare, other possible complications of croup can include middle ear infection and lymphadenitis, an infection of the glands of the immune system lymph nodes.

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Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window. Last updated:. How can we improve this page? Email Address e. Message Maximum of characters. Send feedback. Because attacks often occur in the middle of the night when your doctor is probably not available, you may have to go to the emergency room.

If your child has severe difficulty breathing , call or other emergency services immediately. When home treatment isn't enough, medicines such as glucocorticoids or epinephrine may be used to decrease airway swelling. These are usually given in a doctor's office or an emergency room.

In rare cases, your child may need to stay in the hospital to get extra oxygen or other treatment. Author: Healthwise Staff.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.

To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is croup? What causes croup? What are the symptoms? They may include: A barking cough. The cough is often compared to the sound of a barking seal.

You'll know it when you hear it. A raspy, hoarse voice. A harsh, crowing noise when breathing in. Sometimes children breathe fast and need to sit up to breathe better.