How Does Croup Spread in Children?(

Croup is a very common childhood infection that is quite easy to recognise by the sound of the barking cough. Although this condition isn’t usually serious, you might be wondering what has caused your child’s cough and how infectious croup in children might be.

The Causes of Croup in Children

Croup is a general term for respiratory illnesses that cause the same kinds of symptoms. Although the exact causes can vary, most cases of croup happen when a child has a viral infection such as the flu. In most cases, these infections won’t cause croup. However, in some children the infection leads to swelling of the voice box and windpipe, which narrows the airway and causes the characteristic barking cough associated with croup in children. The same parts of the airways can also be affected by bacterial infections, but this is much less common than viral croup.

How Contagious is Croup?

Since croup is associated with infections such as the flu, your child will be able to spread the infection to other people. Those who are affected might not develop the symptoms of croup, but they will still develop the infection that triggered them. If your child has croup then you should be aware that:

Signs of a habit cough include:

• The germs that cause infections linked to croup can easily be spread by coughs and sneezes.


• Covering the mouth when coughing, using tissues, and washing hands regularly can reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others.


• It is a good idea for your child to have the seasonal flu vaccine if they are susceptible to croup or other respiratory symptoms as it can reduce the risk of catching one of the infections that can lead to croup, even if it cannot protect your child against every illness or strain of flu.