What Is Croup?
3. How Is Croup Different from a Cold?
Many parents assume that a cough that is persistent or loud is a sign of croup, but this is not the case. Most instances of the common cold in children do not lead to croupy conditions. Upper respiratory illnesses with symptoms such as a runny nose, sneeze or postnasal drip are signs of a common cold but do not always lead to a case of croup.
Deteriorating lower respiratory conditions also do not necessarily lead to croup. A child can have a cough, bronchitis or even pneumonia, but unless the vocal cords and trachea are inflamed and there is a distinct barking cough, no croup is present. The difference between a common cold and croup is that a cold can lead to the development of croup, but croup cannot develop in the absence of a virus or infection.
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