If a baby or child has croup:
- Sit them on your knee.
- Reassure them.
- Call 999 if croup is severe and they have a high temperature, as it could be epiglottitis.
What is croup?
Croup is a childhood condition, where there is inflammation of the windpipe and the voice box.
Signs and symptoms
Look for:
- distressed breathing
- a short, barking cough
- rasping noise when breathing in
- a croaky voice
- blue-grey skin (due to lack of oxygen).
What to do
-
Sit the child on your knee, supporting their back, and calmly reassure them.
-
If the croup is severe, or the breathing is distressed and not improving, or the child has a high temperature, call 999 or 112 for emergency medical help. The child may have epiglottitis.
- Monitor their breathing and level of response until help arrives.
How to do a baby primary survey
The primary survey is a quick way to find out how to treat any life threating conditions a baby may have using DRABC. Learn what to do.
