Do lots of people get croup, or is it unusual?

Infection is common: Croup is most likely caused by a para-influenza virus which is very common. Children will typically have the brash sounding cough. The cough is worse at night and steaming the bathroom helps. Adults can get laryngitis from the same virus, but are less likely to have the typical croupy syndrome. If your child has difficulty breathing, you may want to take your child into their pediatrician.

Fair number: In North America, incidence peaks in the second year of life, at 5-6 cases per 100 children.Croup is most common pediatric illness that causes acute stridor, accounting for approximately 15% of clinic and emergency department visits for pediatric respiratory tract infections. Primarily disease of infants and toddlers, with a peak incidence from age 6 months to 36 months (3 years) in US.