What Croup Sounds Like and How to Treat it

This is what croup sounds like. Learn how best to treat it …

Tiny hearts education has shared some great info on croup and how best to treat it.

Can you hear that harsh, barking cough? (watch the video here)

What you’re hearing in this little one is croup. Croup is a condition caused by a viral infection which leads to swelling of the voice box and wind pipe. This makes the airway narrower, so it is harder to breathe.

Children with croup develop a harsh, barking cough and may make a noisy, high-pitched sound when they breathe in – this is called stridor.

Croup can get worse quickly, so if your child is having problems breathing, you should seek urgent medical attention.

The signs and symptoms of croup include:
→ begins typically like a normal cold (e.g. fever, runny nose and cough)
→ your child’s cough will change to become hard and barking – it might sound like a seal
→ your child’s voice may be hoarse
→ when your child breathes in, they may make a squeaky, high pitched noise (stridor)
→ in severe cases, the skin between the child’s ribs or under their neck may suck in when they breathe, and they may struggle to breathe

Call an ambulance immediately if your child is struggling to breathe, they look very sick and become pale and drowsy, their lips are blue in colour and/or if they start to drool or can’t swallow.

You should see a doctor if your child:
→ is under six months old and has signs and symptoms of croup
→ their breastbone or the skin between their ribs sucks when they breathe in
→ has a stridor at rest
→ is very distressed or their symptoms are getting worse
→ you are worried for any other reason

You should also see a doctor if your child has mild croup that lasts for more than four days or if a stridor returns after your child has recovered from croup.

Find the full info here.

Has your child ever suffered from croup? Share your experience below

16 Comments

- - mom153091 said
  - 01 Sep 2019
    8:35 pm
This is a good reference article. My daughter has had croup several times and it cam be quite scary- both for her and me!!!!

- - becstalou said
  - 04 Aug 2019
    3:11 pm
It’s so awful when they are sick but it’s great to have a guide of what to do and what to look for

- - DaffyD said
  - 19 Jul 2019
    8:24 am
It is one of the scariest things parents have to contend with, great article

- - DaffyD said
  - 19 Jul 2019
    8:21 am
It is one of the scariest things parents have to condend with, great article

- - Blossom said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    7:38 pm
I know 2 children who have had had croup as babies. Horrid coughing, gasping for air and wheezing was frightening for with me for one I minded. He was treated with special treatment and sent home. I don’t believe in co-sleeping but I did the first night. Provided I kept him propped up he slept but if he lid down flat he coughed almost non-stop and cried until I managed to re-settle him. I gave him extra feeds and drinks of water for as long as he needed them. He wasn’t always hungry but had what appeared to be dry mouth and sore throat. The other one had pulled his shoes off outside and was walking on cold damp lawn in socks. His Mum was told it would have been better if he had been walking around barefooted. He was admitted to hospital and put in a steam tent and it was discovered he is allergic to the product they used in the vapour

- - mom129591 said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    6:23 pm
I have dealt with my baby and coupe before, let’s just say, it’s so scary! I had to call the ambulance, I didn’t think my baby was breathing and I went into complete panic. They arrived and thought she just bad a cold but just before they left the ambulance person heard a particular sound come out of her and then he said hang on, I think she has coupe. It all ended up being fine.
- mom129591 replied
  
  18 Jul 2019 , 6:25 pm
  My apologies I’m meant to be saying croup
- - mom152736 said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    8:46 am
thanks for sharing! very informative!

- - Ellen said
  - 18 Jul 2019
    7:33 am
No lucky enough my kids haven’t suffered from croup.

- - mom265671 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    11:18 pm
Terrible for kids to go through croup

- - youngoldlady said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    10:06 pm
Number two was a great one for croup, was told he would out grow it.Think he was about nine with his last attack. Lucky all we needed was the stream from a hot shower and he would be god to go after a few hours. A very quiet child the next day at school and his teacher could tell when he would have an attack, yes I would tell her.

- - rachelvk said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    10:04 pm
Croup can be so loud and terrifying.

- - ashna9 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    4:16 pm
Luckily neither of my girls ever got croup. It sounds so terrible.

- - Myrlie said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    3:11 pm
Thanks. I remember my SIL, everytime her eldest had a cough, she would complain of her having croup again. It sounded nothing like this and she didn’t exhibit any of these symptoms, so glad to see a real example of croup cough.

- - Kel from MoM CookClub said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    3:04 pm
Oh that’s so distressing poor baby. Thanks for the advice on what to look out for

- - mom206279 said
  - 17 Jul 2019
    1:15 pm
Its absolutely awful! Poor bub.