Yes, croup is contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person when they talk, cough, or sneeze. Children with croup should be considered contagious for three days after the illness begins or until the fever is gone.
Even though not all children get croup when infected by the virus, the virus that has caused the croup can be spread easily from person to person by coughing and sneezing. If your child has croup, you should keep them away from school and child care while they are unwell so that they don’t spread the virus that is causing the croup.
Regularly washing hands thoroughly can help prevent the spread of viruses. Use alcohol-based hand rubs – These are a good alternative for disinfecting hands if a sink is not available. Avoid close contact with other adults and children with upper respiratory infection when possible. Ensure the child is vaccinated – Vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19 are recommended for individuals older than six months.