Croup Cough Symptoms

Croup is a respiratory ailment, a cough basically, that is caused by the common cold virus. It occurs normally in infants below the age of 5. Adults can also contract croup but it is much tougher for little kids to handle. Also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, croup has no cure as such since it is a viral infection. Treatment is given mostly based on the symptoms, which are described below.

The first and foremost symptom of croup is the barking cough - a hoarse dry cough that sounds similar to the barking of a seal. It can be very sudden as in it may not be there during the day, and may come up suddenly in the middle of the night. Research does show that croup is aggravated during night time. Children who are very young may find it extremely hard to breathe and may even turn blue due to the same.

Another symptom that accompanies the bark is stridor. It is a sharp whistling sound that can be heard when the child breathes in. It is commonly confused with wheezing which is different. Wheezing occurs due to an inflammation in a part of the lungs whereas stridor is a result of swollen tissues in the wind pipe.

If the coughing goes on and on and ends in vomiting, it is more likely whooping cough and a doctor should be consulted immediately.

The above said symptoms can be surprisingly less intense in the day than at night. They can also be aggravated by anxiety and crying, so the child should be kept as calm and comfortable as is possible. These symptoms as stated above result from the inflammation of the air passage, which is smaller in infants and hence they are affected more. The above symptoms may also be accompanied by mild fever and a loss of appetite. If the fever is high, consult a doctor.