Stay calm to help your child with croup

Croup is a virus in the windpipe that is common in children. Antibiotics, like amoxicillin and penicillin, will not help. 

Please follow these instructions carefully:

• Stay calm to keep your child calm. Anxiety or crying may worsen breathing.
• Use a humidifier/vaporizer near the child, especially at night.
• Encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids.
• Use calpol for fever.
• Sleep with head elevated on several pillows.
• If cool mist vaporizer doesn’t help, try steam. This can be done by turning on the shower with the bathroom door closed. Let the child sit in the steamy bathroom.
• Inhaling cold air from an open window may also help breathing.

Return to your own doctor right away if any of the following occur:

• Breathing is getting worse or getting faster.
• Your child is getting restless or uncomfortable and will not calm down.
• Your child drools and cannot or will not swallow.
• The child’s lips, fingers or toes turn blue or gray.
• Your child’s stomach and chest sink in when he or she breathes.

Anything else that worries you contact your doctor within 24 hours.