How long before i should see improvement in my son with croup after getting steroid shot? how long should croup last

Croup: Croup is typically caused by the parainfluenza virus and lasts 3-7 days however, some cases last up nto 2 weeks. If the symptoms are severe, a super-imposed bacterial infection may be present (staph) and might require antibiotics. Make sure you seek emergency care for any severe shortness of breath episodes that occur. You may also need more close evaluation by the pcp if symptoms are not improvin.

4-8 hours: Generally steroids begin to show an effect after ~4 hours and are working well by 8 hours. If your child received Epinephrine to help him breathe, it may wear off 1-2 hours before the steroid starts to work. Dexamethasone (decadron) has been shown to be the best steroid for croup. Untreated croup tends to worsen for 3-5 days before it starts to improve (as do most viral infections).