Symptoms Of Croup To Watch Out For

Breathing Issues

Once a child's breathing progresses beyond slight stuffiness or a runny nose, it is time to mention the issue to their doctor. Mild cases of croup may not exhibit any noticeable breathing issues, but if it progresses, airways will become more and more blocked. A child's breathing might start to seem high pitched and noisy because airways are smaller. If croup progresses even more, their breathing might get fast, and they might sound like they are struggling to breathe in. You may notice the skin around the ribs and top of the sternum sucks in. This is a sign your child is inhaling as hard as they can but cannot get enough oxygen. Their neck muscles may also pull in as they labor to breathe. If their breathing is labored enough, you may need to seek emergency medical treatment.