Providing Teaching. The nurse determines the parents’ level of understanding of croup and previous experiences in coping with the illness. Teach the parents that once a child has had an attack, croup may recur. Teach the parents that maintaining a stable environmental temperature and humidity and keeping the child well hydrated may help decrease the severity of attacks. Teach that croup is a viral infection and that avoiding large groups of people and practicing good health habits to prevent infection may decrease the risk for recurrence of croup. Teach parents the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress and symptoms that should prompt a call to the physician