Call 911 Now- Severe trouble breathing (struggling for each breath, constant severe stridor)
- Passed out or stopped breathing
- Lips or face are bluish when not coughing
- Croup started suddenly after bee sting, taking a new medicine or allergic food
- Drooling, spitting or having great trouble swallowing. Exception: drooling due to teething.
- You think your child has a life-threatening emergency
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now- Stridor (harsh sound with breathing in) is heard now
- Trouble breathing, but not severe
- Lips or face have turned bluish during coughing
- Breathing is much faster than normal
- Can't bend the neck forward
- Severe chest pain
- Had croup before that needed Decadron
- Weak immune system. Examples are: sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
- High-risk child (such as cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung disease)
- Fever over 104° F (40° C)
- Fever in baby less than 12 weeks old. Caution: do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent
| Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours- Stridor (harsh sound with breathing in) occurred but not present now
- Nonstop coughing
- Age less than 1 year old with a croupy cough
- Earache or ear drainage
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- Fever returns after being gone more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours- Coughing causes vomiting 3 or more times
- Croup is a frequent problem (3 or more times)
- Barky cough lasts more than 14 days
- You have other questions or concerns
| Self Care at Home- Mild croup (barky cough) with no stridor
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