The first sudden attack of croup in the middle of the night can be very frightening. Learning something about croup will help you.
Croup is not one specific disease. It's a group of diseases that all have in common a barking cough and trouble breathing air in. Most cases are mild and respond quickly to treatment.
If your child suddenly wakes up during the night having trouble breathing and sounding like a dog or seal barking, he has croup. Don't panic. Call your doctor immediately for his advice.
To make your child feel better and to ease the sore throat that accompanies croup take your child into the bathroom and turn on the hot water in the sink and bath. Steam is the best treatment for so-called "midnight croup" and in a few minutes your child's breathing will usually improve.
There are other more serious forms of croup, some requiring hospitalization because of severe difficulty in breathing. Your doctor must be called whenever you suspect that your child has croup, especially if he is not relieved after a few minutes in the steam filled bathroom. When it comes to croup, never take a chance - it can be a treacherous disease.