Mild illness may be treated at home with supportive measures. Warm or cool humidified air should be provided. A hot shower can provide warm steam, and the child can be held in the bathroom for 20 minutes. Taking the child outside in the cold air is often helpful. Croup caused by a foreign object can be removed by direct visualization of the larynx with a laryngoscope, and the object can usually be removed with an instrument.
Serious illness requires hospitalization.
Increasing or persistent breathing difficulty , fatigue , bluish coloration of the skin , or dehydration indicates the need for medical attention or hospitalization. Oxygen and humidity may be provided in an oxygen tent placed over a crib. A bacterial infection requires antibiotic therapy. Intravenous fluids are given for dehydration. In some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed.