Caring for a croupy cough

If you've ever heard a seal pup barking – you know the telltale sound of croup. It is  common in children until they're about 5-years-old, according to Cleveland Clinic Children's pediatrician, Dr. Kim Giuliano. Croup most commonly strikes in the fall and winter and is usually brought on by an infection, causing the voice box and windpipe to swell.

"It usually starts off as mild cold symptoms and then children will develop a hoarse voice similar to laryngitis, " Giuliano said.

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In more serious cases of croup, children can develop a harsh, raspy, vibrating wheeze when they breathe in called, stridor.

They may also have a signature seal-like bark which is very high pitched and can be scary for both parent and child.

"The average cough with a cold is either very dry and throaty or sometimes as a deeper cough that sounds kind of wet and mucusy – we're all very familiar with those sounds," Guiliano explained. "The cough that comes with croup is very different from any other cough parents have heard."

If your child is wheezing or their breathing seems labored, Giuliano recommends trying a couple of things at home. She advises taking your child into the bathroom, shutting the door and turning the shower on high to get the room nice and steamy.

"Breathing in moist air can help a child who is having breathing difficulties," she said.

Another trick that may ease croup breathing problems is taking your child outside into the cold air. These home remedies should provide relief within minutes but if they don't help, Giuliano advises taking your child to the emergency room.

"It's the child that's having increasing breathing difficulties that's at risk for complications," Giuliano said.  "Those are the children that need to be evaluated urgently."

Giuliano adds that most croup will go away by itself and urges parents to steer clear of cough or cold medicines to treat it.

"They cause significant side effects and research has shown for croup and other kinds of coughs and colds they're really not any more effective than giving your child a placebo," she said.