subject: Useful Information About Croup Cough [print this page] Croup Cough, also called laryngotracheobronchitis is a common childhood viral illness. Like most viral illnesses, there is no cure for croup. Nonetheless, there are many symptomatic treatments that can help the infected child feel better faster.
Children most prone to Croup lie in the age group of six months and three years. They are more prone to this viral infection during the late fall, winter and early spring. The common symptoms of Croup Coughare a runny nose and a brassy cough. These symptoms generally develop about 2-6 days after being exposed to someone with croup.
One of the distinctive characteristics of croup is its sudden onset in children. You might put a healthy child to bed and then suddenly your child might wake up in the middle of the night with a croupy cough and trouble breathing. The cough that a child has with this viral is also distinctive. Unlike other viral respiratory illnesses, which can cause a dry, wet, or deep cough, croup causes a cough that sounds like a barking seal.
Croup Cough has a distinctive pattern. It generally begins in the middle of the night. The symptoms might get better during the day and worsen at night (although they are usually less intense each night). Symptoms can also get worse if the child becomes anxious or agitated.
Why younger children are affected by this cough the most? The symptoms of this cough are the result of inflammation, swelling and the buildup of mucus in the larynx, trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tubes. Younger infants and children are more prone to Croup Cough since they have smaller airways. Also, children with croup will usually also have a hoarse voice, decreased appetite and a fever. The fever might be low grade, but may rise up to 104 degrees F.
