Medical Treatment

• Humidified oxygen or cool mist is usually given to children coming to the hospital with croup. This treatment helps to moisten secretions and inflamed tissues to open the airway and soothe irritation. Children who are not responding to mist will receive nebulizer treatments to breathe (breathing into a machine with a face mask that generates a medication-enhanced mist). This therapy is believed to decrease the swelling in the respiratory airway.
  
  
• Steroid therapy has been shown to be of benefit in children with moderate to severe croup. It may be given orally, by injection, or by IV. Inhaled steroids appear to have limited value. Antibiotics have not been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of croup.
  
  
• If your child responds to treatment, the doctor may elect to observe the child for an additional few hours to make sure the symptoms do not return after the medications have worn off. If your child remains symptomatic after therapy, then the child will require admission to the hospital.