A croupy cough is not a
typical raspy kind of a cough that you usually hear. The distinctive sign that
your toddler has a croupy cough is if he or she sounds somewhat like a seal pup
barking. It is a very pitched sound that can be quite alarming.
Children who have a
more serious infection sometimes develop a raspy, vibrating, harsh wheeze when
they inhale.
What
Is Croupy Cough And What Causes It?
This is a type of
respiratory infection that usually affects toddlers who are younger than 5
years of age. Children are usually affected through the autumn and winter
months.
The condition is
commonly caused by a particular strain of virus called adenovirus or influenza
virus. Sometimes, however, it can also be caused by bacteria. At the beginning
of the infection, your child will probably suffer from a mild cold and cough.
This may or may not be accompanied by a low fever.
As the infection
progresses, your child's voice may turn more hoarse and it will sound something
like laryngitis. However, the coughing sound will be quite different from any
other coughing sound. As we said before, it will sound like a young seal
barking.
How long the symptoms
of the condition last depends mainly on the severity of the condition.
Typically, the duration is between five to six days. If left untreated, the
condition can lead to several other complications such as respiratory distress,
ear infection or even pneumonia.
Home
Remedies Or Doctor?
There are a few things
you can do at home to reduce the symptoms if you find that your child's
breathing is labored or your child is wheezing with a very high-pitched sound.
The first thing you can
try is to get the bathroom hot and steamy by closing the door and turning the
shower on hot. Let your child stay in the steamy room for a while as moist air
can make it easier for your child to breathe.
If you have as face
steamer, you can use that too to generate steam, which your child can breathe
in.
If neither of these two
strategies work, you must take your child to a pediatrician to get a proper
diagnosis and treatment. A pediatrician will do a thorough evaluation and will
advise you as to what you should do next depending on the severity of your
child's symptoms.
Never, ever give your
child any type of over the counter medications as these may have dangerous side
effects.
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