Australian Prescriber Vol. This is a very common condition in children aged 1-2 years. It is usually caused by a virus. Swelling in the voice box and windpipe causes a barking cough and noisy breathing. It is usually worse at night.
Most children get better in a few days, but some develop difficulty breathing.
These severe cases should be seen by a doctor. If the child is distressed and breathing noisily, even when sitting still, then admission to hospital will probably be needed. Recent research has found that children with severe croup improve quickly if they are given drugs related to cortisone, such as budesonide or dexamethasone. The steroids can be inhaled, swallowed or injected. This treatment has already reduced the number of children with croup admitted to intensive care units.