Why is croup worse at night

Some children get croup several times. Croup can get worse quickly. If your child is having problems breathing, seek urgent medical attention. Croup often begins without warning, in the middle of the night.

The symptoms are often worse at night, and are at their worst on the second or third night of the illness. The signs and symptoms of croup may last for three to four days; however, a cough may linger for up to three weeks. The stridor should not persist. A mild attack of croup is when your child has the harsh, barking cough but does not have stridor when they are calm and settled, and they are not struggling to breathe. No medical treatment is necessary for mild croup, or the virus that has caused it.

You can usually manage mild croup at home with the following care:. Steam and humidifiers are no longer recommended as treatment. There is no evidence to suggest they are beneficial. You should call an ambulance immediately if:.

Croup PDF. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Croup. What You will Hear and See At first, your child may have a stuffy or runny nose and may have a low fever. What to do There is no medicine that will get rid of the virus, but you can do some things to help your child breathe easier until the infection goes away. Stay calm and try to keep your child calm.

Your child may also have a hoarse voice and a harsh, high-pitched wheezing sound called stridor when they breathe in. These symptoms are usually worse at night.

Some children may need to go to the hospital immediately — your GP will advise on this. But croup can usually be managed at home and lasts for around 48 hours. The most important thing you can do is to keep your child relaxed and calm, as otherwise their coughing will get worse. If it helps, sit them in your lap to help soothe and comfort them. Keep your child well hydrated with plenty of drinks and give them junior painkillers if a fever is causing them distress.

But the cough usually sounds worse than it is. Your GP will prescribe a single dose of a steroid medicine to help your child with their breathing.

They may also arrange a follow up appointment to check-up on your child. In most children, croup is mild and will get better in time. However, you should take your child to the hospital if:. Find out why children pick up so many viruses and illnesses during childhood, how to manage them and when to seek medical advice. Viruses that are known to cause croup are:.

Croup is spread through direct contact with a person, or fluids from another person who has the disease. The infection starts in the nose and throat and moves into the lungs.

Swelling affects the area around the voice box larynx and into the windpipe trachea. Younger children are more affected by croup because their airways are smaller. Therefore, a small amount of swelling can make it really hard for a child to breathe. Symptoms of croup are not always the same. As the disease moves from the nose to the lungs, the symptoms can change.

Common symptoms of croup are:.