Complications that develop as a result of croup are rare, with less than 5% of children with croup needing to be hospitalised.
Airway obstruction
If an obstructed airway is not treated promptly, it can lead to:
- severe breathing difficulty (respiratory distress)
- respiratory arrest (where breathing stops but the heart continues beating)
Always call 999 for an ambulance if your child is struggling to breathe.
Your child may find it difficult to drink fluids as a result of an obstruction in their airway. However, it is important that they have plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Secondary infection
A secondary infection can sometimes develop following the initial viral infection that caused croup. A secondary infection can potentially cause:
- pneumonia, which is swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs, usually caused by an infection
- bacterial tracheitis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can occur after a viral respiratory infection
Other possible complications
Other possible complications of croup can include:
- otitis media, which is a build-up of fluid in the middle ear
- pulmonary oedema, which is a build-up of fluid in the lungs, which causes shortness of breath
- pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung that results from air leaking into the space between the lungs and the chest wall
- lymphadenitis, which is an infection of the lymph nodes (the glands that make up part of your immune system)
