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Croupy Cough in Children

The croup, also referred to as laryngotracheobronchitis, in children can be caused by a virus, allergies or an inhaled foreign body. A croupy or "barky" cough results from a swollen larynx and trachea. Children under the age of three have a small larynx and trachea, making them more prone to developing a croupy cough.

  1. Symptoms

    • According to Dr. Alan Greene M.D., 75 percent of croupy cough is caused by parainfluenza viruses. Croup can also develop from the flu, measles, RSV and adenovirus. Croup tends to develop in children between the ages of three months and five years. Croup in children is characterized by symptoms of a cold that progress within a few days, and a cough that can be compared to the sound of a seal barking sets in. Croupy cough in children gets worse at night and can lead to sleeplessness, irritability and fatigue.

    Diagnosis

    • Your pediatrician will perform a physical and review your child's medical history to reach a croup diagnosis. In some cases, such as after office hours, your doctor may make a croup diagnosis simply by listening to your child cough over the phone. More severe cases of croup may require chest X-rays to rule out more serious infections such as pneumonia.

    Home Treatment

    • Many pediatricians recommend treating a croupy cough in children that worsens at night by taking the child outdoors into cold air for a few minutes. Allowing the child to breathe in cold night air will temporarily decrease the swelling in the larynx and improve croup symptoms. Croupy cough in children may also be treated by creating a steam room in your shower by turning on the hot water, shutting the door and letting the water run for 15 to 20 minutes. Sit with your child while the steam develops to allow him to breath in the steam which will soothe his swollen, irritated larynx. Over-the-counter children's acetaminophen may lower any fever your child may be experiencing as well as make her more comfortable while experiencing croup symptoms.

    Professional Treatment

    • If your child's croupy cough is not remedied by home treatments, consult your pediatrician for further treatments. Your pediatrician is likely to use steroid medicines to promptly remedy croup symptoms and may also use aerosol treatments for powerful, effective management of them.

    Considerations

    • Croupy cough in children usually lasts from five to six nights, with the first two nights being the worst. Severe cases of the croup may last up to a week or longer. If your child suffers from a croupy cough for longer than one week or has frequent recurring bouts of croup, consult your pediatrician to determine the cause and the best means of treatment.

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