As the winter chill sets in and the holidays pick up speed, you may be thinking about treating the family to a meal at Biscuitville instead of adding to the holiday cleaning list. But while you’re checking off your to-do list, you suddenly hear your child coughing in the store. Soon, their cough worsens, and you notice it sounds like a seal barking. It’s a common issue, but now you’re concerned as it doesn’t seem to improve.

AFC Urgent Care is here to help you understand what could be causing your child’s “barking cough” and what steps to take.

If you suspect your child has croup, visit one of our AFC Urgent Care clinics for expert care.

What is Croup?

The “barking cough” is one of the most recognizable symptoms of croup, a viral infection that causes swelling in the upper airway. This inflammation affects the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and bronchial tubes (bronchi), which makes it harder to breathe and results in the characteristic cough that sounds like a seal barking. In many cases, it also causes a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing in, known as “stridor.”

Croup usually begins like a common cold, but as the inflammation and coughing increase, the symptoms worsen into the familiar barking cough. It can also develop as a complication of other viral infections like RSV or influenza.

Croup is fairly common, with around 200,000 cases reported each year, most often in children between 6 months and 3 years old. It’s rare in children older than 6 or in adults.

Common Symptoms

We’ve already highlighted the “barking cough” commonly seen in infants and young children, but there are other symptoms of croup to watch for.

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fever
• Hoarse Voice
• Noisy or labored breathing (often worse at night)
• Barking cough (made worse by crying and coughing)
• Rash
• Eye redness (conjunctivitis).
• Swollen lymph nodes.

The condition typically starts with typical cold-like symptoms, which then progresses to the distinctive signs of croup within 12 to 48 hours. Most cases resolve within 3 to 5 days. If your child’s symptoms persist or worsen, be sure to visit an AFC clinic for expert pediatric care.

How to Avoid Croup

Kids can easily catch croup from another child’s coughs, sneezes, or by touching contaminated items. Like treating colds and the flu, there are several ways to help your little one avoid croup:

• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Clean frequently touched surfaces
• Avoid sick children

When to Seek Medical Care

Seek immediate medical attention if your child:

• Develops a blue or gray tint around the nose, in or around the mouth, or on the fingernails
• Struggling to breathe
• Makes high-pitched breathing sounds when not crying or upset
• Begins drooling or has problems swallowing
• Seems anxious, upset and restless or extra tired and has no energy
• Breathes at a faster rate than usual

Ways to Help Your Child

There are some things you can do to ease your child’s discomfort as they fight off the virus:

• Let your child breathe cool air at night by opening a door or window
• Treat your child’s fever with an over-the-counter medication.
• Give your child warm, clear fluids to help loosen the mucus on their vocal cords
• Keep your child’s head elevated with an extra pillow (don’t use pillows with infants younger than 12 months old)
• Use a humidifier
• Make sure your child stays hydrated and well rested

For the safety of others, be aware that your child is contagious for three days after their symptoms first appear or until their fever is gone.

If you are concerned about your child’s cough, visit a AFC Urgent Care clinic for quick and effective pediatric care.