Home treatment usually is all that is needed to treat croup. You can help prevent major episodes, or attacks, as well as use techniques to manage attacks if they occur.

Preventing croup attacks

You may be able to prevent croup episodes, or attacks, of intense troubled breathing and coughing. If your child has croup:

• Use a cool air humidifier in your child's room. Do not use a hot vaporizer, and make sure to put only plain water in the humidifier. Although research has not consistently shown that croup symptoms improve with humidifier use, using one poses very little risk and may benefit your child.¹ Be sure to empty, clean, and completely dry out the humidifier between each use to prevent mold growth.
• Offer plenty of fluids to drink. Always have water available and try offering other beverages, frozen ice treats (such as Popsicles), or crushed ice drinks several times each hour.
• Do not smoke, especially in the house.

Do not use medications designed for the common cold, which may include antihistamines (such as chlorpheniramine [for example, Chlor-Trimeton] or diphenhydramine [for example, Benadryl]) and decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine [for example, Sudafed or Triaminic] or oxymetazoline [for example, Afrin or Neo-Synephrine]).

Managing attacks of croup

It is important for you and your child to keep calm during an attack of croup, even though it can be frightening. If your child is upset, crying, and anxious, the swelling and narrowing of the airway can become worse. Usually, symptoms sound worse than they are.

Taking measures to manage an episode of croup, such as adding moisture to the air and keeping your child calm and comfortable, can help keep symptoms under control. If coughing and difficulty breathing do not improve within about 30 minutes despite your efforts, seek medical attention from a health professional. Because attacks often occur in the middle of the night, you may need to visit a hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to deal with croup at home, see:

Managing an episode of croup.

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