Croup Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Croup?

Croup usually starts as a cold. Your child might have a runny or stuffy nose and a fever. But it doesn’t take long before your little one’s symptoms turn into something else. 

A virus usually causes croup. Your child may get it by breathing infected droplets or touching a germy surface and then their eyes, nose, or mouth. Here are the signs your child may have croup:

• A cough that sounds like a bark 

• Hoarse or raspy voice

• Noisy, labored breathing

• Fever (in some cases)

• Rash

• Eye redness

• Swollen lymph nodes

Croup symptoms may be worse at night and usually last 3 to 5 days.

Serious Croup Symptoms

Call your doctor if symptoms don’t improve after 3 to 5 days or if they get worse. See your doctor right away if your child:

• Makes a noisy, high-pitched breathing sound (doctors call it stridor) when they breathe in or out

• Starts drooling or has a hard time swallowing

• Is anxious or agitated, or has no energy

• Breathes much faster than usual

• Has a hard time breathing (chest muscles pull in)

• Turns gray or blue around their nose, mouth, or fingernails

Seems to be dehydrated, with dry lips or tongue, and/or no urine output