The mucus gets dry and thick and makes it hard for your child to breathe. Your child gasps for air and makes a high, whistling sound like a seal's bark. Croup is scary, but not usually dangerous. Steam can make the mucus soft and wet again. Sometimes you can make your child better with steam.
Children usually stop getting croup as they get older and their windpipe becomes wider.
Croup usually goes away in 3 to 7 days and is usually worse at night. Sometimes the doctor can give your child a prescription when the croup starts. This may help your child feel better. Sometimes your child shows the signs of croup, but something else is wrong. This looks like croup but is more serious.