Can Newborns Get Croup? Signs, Causes & When to Call the Doctor

Nobody likes it when their baby gets sick, especially if the sniffles turn into them waking up to a harsh, barking cough in the middle of the night. Croup, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, is a common illness in babies and young kids caused by a variety of contagious respiratory infections. Croup often arrives suddenly and can make breathing sound loud or strained, which can be frightening to hear.

The characteristic symptom of croup is a distinctive barking cough, possibly accompanied by raspy breathing. The good news is that even though a croup cough can sound a little spooky, it is usually mild and resolves within about a week. Here’s what you need to know to keep your baby comfortable, help them recover, and to know when to get extra help.

Can newborns get croup?

Croup infections are most often seen in kids between three months and five years old, with a peak around age two. Infants under three months old with any of these symptoms should be seen by a pediatrician, especially if they have a cough or are having trouble breathing. Croup impacts about 1 in 33 kids every year in the United States and is responsible for about seven percent of hospitalizations in kids under the age of five.

Croup is common in young kids for a couple of reasons. Babies and young children have an underdeveloped immune system and are more susceptible to infections. Additionally, croup cough is caused by swelling of the voice box and windpipe. When a cough pushes air through the narrow airway, swollen vocal cords cause a cough that sounds like a seal barking. As your child grows, the airway gets larger, and swelling is less likely to cause croup’s unique symptoms.

What causes croup in newborns?

The most common cause of croup is human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV), which are responsible for about 75 percent of croup cases. Croup can also be caused by influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, enterovirus, and other viruses. Even allergies can cause croup in some cases.

No matter which virus is responsible for croup, they all spread in the usual ways. Your child could get sick after direct contact with another sick person, exposure to respiratory droplets, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Fortunately, by age five, about 75 percent of kids have developed immunity to HPIV-1 and HPIV-2, the viruses most commonly responsible for croup.

Early Croup Symptoms in Infants

Croup is an infection that causes inflammation, swelling, and partial blockage of the upper airway, usually in children. It can be caused by many different respiratory viruses, so symptoms of any respiratory illness, including fever, hoarseness, or chest congestion, could be an early sign of croup. It’s worth noting that most children infected with these viruses will not develop croup.

The most common symptom of croup is a characteristic barking cough. Some kids may also make a vibrating sound when inhaling, which is called stridor. Other common symptoms of croup include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Hoarseness
• Fever
• Rash
• Eye redness
• Nasal flaring
• Swollen lymph nodes

Croup vs Whooping Cough vs RSV: How to Tell the Difference

RSV vs Croup: RSV and croup are both respiratory diseases that commonly affect children. While RSV is its own illness, the virus that causes RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can also cause croup. RSV can also impact adults but doesn’t usually result in croup.

Whooping Cough vs Croup: Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a respiratory infection common in babies. Like croup, it has a distinctive cough. Whooping cough is caused by a bacterial infection, while croup is usually caused by a virus.

Home Remedies for Croup in Newborns

Croup usually remains contagious for three days after the first symptoms appear or until the fever is gone. Kids should stay home until they’ve been without a fever for 24 hours. Most cases are relatively mild and resolve at home on their own. Fewer than five percent of kids need hospital care for croup.

For mild croup, you can help soothe your child’s airway with a humidifier. If you don’t have access to a humidifier, you can also create steam in your bathroom by running a hot shower, then sit with your child in the makeshift steam room for 15 to 20 minutes.

Keeping your child’s head elevated with a pillow can make breathing easier and reduce symptoms. However, you shouldn’t use pillows, blankets, or any other bedding materials for kids under 12 months old.

Make sure to offer plenty of fluids and avoid air contaminants, including smoke, in the home. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used in child-safe doses to help manage pain or fever. Never give young children aspirin.

You might want to consider sleeping in the same room as your child so you can help them quickly if they have trouble breathing at night. And, for older kids, popsicles and cold drinks help soothe the throat.

When a Newborn Needs Medical Treatment

Most cases of croup have only mild symptoms and resolve on their own, but moderate or severe croup may need medical care. Croup treatments may include breathing treatments, oxygen, IV fluids, medication, and monitoring.

Call a doctor if your child’s fever lasts more than three days or goes above 104°F, if symptoms persist for more than a week, or if you are concerned about your child’s condition. Other signs of moderate or severe croup include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Bluish skin
• Restlessness
• Nervousness
• Drooling or difficulty swallowing
• Retractions (sucking in of the skin around the ribs and top of the breastbone)

Preventing Croup in Newborns

Young children often get sick, thanks to their tiny bodies and underdeveloped immune systems. Getting sick is part of your baby’s normal development, helping them build up defenses for the rest of their lives. You can’t totally protect your baby from germs, but there are things you can do to reduce their risk of croup and other respiratory illnesses.

• Washing hands with soap and water
• Washing toys between uses
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow
• Avoiding people who are sick
• Teaching your child not to share food, cups, dishware, etc.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic, Croup

Medical News Today, What to know about croup in newborns

Mayo Clinic, Croup

Johns Hopkins Medicine, Croup in Children

Intermountain Health, Baby Your Baby – All About Croup

CDC, Clinical Overview of Human Parainfluenza Viruses