How to Treat Croup
- 1). Hold and comfort the child. Agitation and fear can worsen symptoms.
- 2). Use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer. The mist will help relieve airway swelling and loosen secretions.
- 3). Turn on the shower to steam up the room, and then take the child inside. Sit on the toilet seat or on a chair. Keep the child in the steamy room for 15 minutes. Read a book aloud to help keep him or her quiet.
- 4). Bundle the child up and take him or her outside into the cool night air (most croup occurs at night). Croup usually responds quickly to moist air.
- 5). Make your own croup tent. Place the vaporizer under the child's bed. Drape a blanket over a crib (use an umbrella if your child is old enough for a bed). This will trap the steam.
- 6). Avoid leaving your child alone under the croup tent. You need to stay awake to monitor symptoms.
- 7). Encourage the child to drink liquids, especially clear ones. This helps to thin mucus.
- 8). Avoid milk, as it makes secretions thicker.
- 9). Continue to assess symptoms. If croup doesn't improve after trying several methods of self-care (steam, night air, croup tent) for at least 15 minutes each or seems to be worsening, you may need to go to the emergency room.
Source...