What is croup?
Croup is a viral infection that causes swelling around the voice box and windpipe. It makes a distinctive barking cough that sounds like a seal. Croup also causes a harsh, noisy sound when breathing in called stridor. Croup is most common in children ages 6 months to 3 years and tends to get worse at night.
What to watch for at home
- Barking cough: loud, harsh cough — very distinctive, often described as sounding like a seal or a dog
- Stridor: a high-pitched, noisy sound when breathing IN (not out). Stridor at rest — when your child is calm — is a serious sign
- Hoarse voice or cry
- Fever: usually mild
- Worse at night: croup classically gets worse after midnight
What you can do at home
- Cool night air: bundle your child and step outside for a few minutes — cool air can quickly reduce swelling. This is especially useful in Alaska where cold air is readily available
- Steam: sit with your child in a steamy bathroom for 10 minutes — run the hot shower
- Stay calm: anxiety makes stridor worse. Hold your child calmly and reassuringly
- Upright position: sitting up helps
- Fever medicine: for comfort if needed
| Cool outside air is a first-line croup treatment For families in rural Alaska, stepping outside into cold air is a highly effective immediate intervention for croup. Bundle your child warmly and breathe the cold air together for several minutes. If stridor improves significantly, continue monitoring at home. If it does not improve or gets worse, seek care. |
| 📞 Call your provider if: Croup lasting more than 3–5 days High fever (croup usually has mild fever) Stridor that comes and goes but keeps returning Your child is not sleeping well due to cough Getting worse instead of better after home treatment | 🚨 Go to the ER immediately if: Stridor at rest — noisy breathing IN when calm Struggling to breathe — retractions, pale or blue color Drooling and unable to swallow Sitting forward, chin out, struggling to breathe Extremely anxious or agitated |