Dr Phil Kieran: How can I help my child avoid croup?

Croup usually starts with a mild, cold-like illness, characterised by a runny nose, mild fever (around 38.5 °C), and, sometimes, sticky eyes. This can then progress to a cough, followed by the classic ‘seal bark’ croup cough.

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025 - 01:00

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Dr Phil Kieran

General Practitioner

My two-year-old son has needed to go to hospital twice with croup, and I now get worried every time he has a cough. I thought the summer would be a break from it, but my friend’s child just had croup. Is there anything I can do to prevent him from getting seriously ill with croup again?

Croup is the medical term for infections that cause swelling in the upper airways, particularly in the larynx (voice box). This is almost always a virus, and the most common cause is a parainfluenza virus. This means that croup is far more common in the autumn and winter months than at other times of the year, but, as you have mentioned, it can also happen in the summer.

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