Barky Cough: How to Handle Croup

My 18 month old son is suffering from viral Croup right now, and it is very tough on him. What is Croup? Croup is a viral infection that starts out with a mild cold (runny nose) for the first few days and turns into barking-like cough. The cough is very characteristic and sounds like a barking seal. This is caused by the swelling of the vocal chords. Since this is viral, it is contagious.

My son suffered from a runny nose for about 3 days. He was slightly less energetic, which is usual when he has a cold – nothing really out of the ordinary. After the 3rd day, he was back to his old self again. On the 4th night, I noticed that his breathing was different during his sleep. When he woke up the next day, he was hoarse, raspy and had a cough. At this point I wasn’t worried yet, but the following night was a different story. Every inhale my son made was raspy, whoopy, and phlegmy, and there was a slight whistling sound. On the 6th day, he was barking like a seal. From what I read about Croup several months ago, it is important to humidify the environment. My husband set up our humidifier and bought some cold and cough medicine, and Tylenol (for the low grade fever and sore throat).

It’s been a tough few days. My son hasn’t really eaten anything other than a couple of bananas a day and some water and milk. He’s tired during the day because of the lack of sleep for the past several nights. But today I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. His cough doesn’t sound like a bark anymore, thought it still sounds terrible. He saw his dad eating something and showed interest on it. He only took a couple of bites, but it’s a sign that he is on the way to recovery.

Most children suffering from Croup usually have mild symptoms, but it can get serious. Because Croup causes swelling of the vocal chords, it does make it harder to breathe. Some children may have enough trouble breathing that they can become very lethargic, become pale, and even become bluish from lack of oxygen. In these cases, seek medical attention immediately. Doctors can administer steroid to relieve the swelling and enable the child to breathe easier.

My son, as I mentioned, has mild symptoms. His barky cough only lasts for a few seconds or so before he stops. But crying brings this on, so it’s important to keep children calm. When the child suffers from the barky cough and can’t stop, run the shower and create steam. Sit in the bathroom with the child for about 10 minutes until the coughing stops. If it’s cold outside, sit by an open window. The cool moist air will alleviate the coughing. I also heard that a ride in the car with the open window will also do the trick. Note that these methods are for alleviating barky cough that won’t stop – making it hard for the child to breathe.

Viral infections are best left alone to take its course. Antibiotics will not help viral infections, so do not insist on it. Phone your pediatrician if you are not quite sure of what to do. It is always better to be safe than sorry.