Kids' health - common conditions: Croup
Croup
What is it? A nasty cough caused by a viral infection to the throat.
What are the symptoms?
Typical things to watch out for are:
- A barking cough that sounds like a bit like a sea-lion
- Breathing is difficult and sounds noisy
- Runny nose and a sore throat
What should I do? The actual cough is very difficult to treat - make sure you lower their temperature with paracetamol or ibuprofen liquid, get your little one to drinks plenty of fluid and try cool air to ease the breathing.
How long will it last? The worst of it typically lasts 2-3 days.
When will they get it? Most kids get it before they're 3 and very occasionally up to the age of 6.
What if my child doesn't get it? Thank your lucky stars. It's very distressing for parents, because there is so little they can do to ease the terrible cough.
- Find out more about croup in children
More common conditions
- Appendicitis
- Chicken pox
- German measles/Rubella
- Glue ear
- Head lice/Nits
- Measles
- Mumps
- Ringworm
- Scarlet fever
- Slapped cheek syndrome
By Rob Mansfield
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