A child who has croup may at first seem to have a common upper respiratory infection (URI), such as a cold. The first symptoms of URI, such as runny nose and congestion, usually last about 1 or 2 days. Croup symptoms usually follow and last 2 to 5 more days.

Croup symptoms include:

• Normal temperature or a slight fever.
• A loud, barking cough.
• A raspy, hoarse voice.
• Varying degrees of high-pitched crowing sounds when breathing in.
• Some trouble breathing as a result of swelling in the windpipe.

Unless the illness is severe, a child with croup is usually alert and active and doesn't appear very sick.

The coughing and troubled breathing caused by mild to moderate croup may make your child's condition seem more serious than it really is.

If your child has severe difficulty breathing, call 911 or other emergency services immediately.