Assessment of a Child Presenting With Croup

If possible, allow the child to sit on carers lap and do not examine the throat.

The history is of key importance and in croup the following is the typical presentation[10]:

• One to two days of an upper respiratory tract infection followed by a barking cough and stridor.
• Low grade fever
• No drooling

The following clinical signs are often present[10]:

• Stridor
• Barking cough
• Hoarseness
• Respiratory distress +/- fever +/- coryzal symptoms

Assessment of severity is based on assessment of the following parameters[10]:

• Respiratory Rate
• Heart Rate
• Oxygen Saturations
• Respiratory Distress
• Exhaustion