What Is Croup?
2. What Are the Symptoms of Croup?
Croup has a very distinctive set of symptoms that sets it apart from other conditions. First, the sound of a croupy cough is very noticeable. Since the larynx is inflamed, a croupy cough does not sound like a typical cough. Instead, it is described as a barking cough, similar to the sound of a seal barking. This barking cough is due to the swelling of the vocal cords and can be alarming the first time a parent encounters it. Children with croup sometimes run a fever, although the fever is typically not a high grade.
Another typical symptom of croup is a whistling sound when the child inhales a breath. The whistle is high pitched and can worry parents that the child is having difficulty breathing, even though this is not typically the case. The swollen vocal cords are the whistling culprit, although there is plenty of room for air to pass through. High-pitched whistling during an inhaled breath is referred to as stridor. Some children have labored breathing or breathing that becomes noisy. The persistent cough can also cause hoarseness in the voice.
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