With the holidays approaching and the cold weather settling in, you might be planning a trip to Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina for a stress-free family dinner. But while shopping, you hear your child’s cough take a turn—it starts to sound like a barking seal. It’s something many parents deal with, but you’re starting to worry as the cough worsens.

At AFC Oak Ridge, we’re here to explain what could be causing your child’s “barking cough” and how to care for them.

Think your child has croup? AFC Oak Ridge is here for you.

What is Croup?

The “barking cough” is a signature symptom of croup, a viral infection that leads to swelling in the upper respiratory tract. This swelling affects the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and bronchial tubes (bronchi), making breathing more difficult and causing the characteristic barking cough. A high-pitched whistling sound, called “stridor,” is also common when breathing in.

Croup often starts with cold-like symptoms, but as the inflammation and coughing progress, the barking cough emerges. It can also develop from other viral infections like RSV or the flu.

Croup is a common condition, affecting around 200,000 children each year, primarily those between 6 months and 3 years old. It’s uncommon in children older than 6 or in adults.

Common Symptoms

The “barking cough” is one of the most recognizable signs of croup in younger children, but there are other symptoms to keep an eye on.

• 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

The condition typically begins with cold-like symptoms, which then develop into the more classic symptoms of croup within 12 to 48 hours. Most cases resolve in about 3 to 5 days. If your child’s symptoms persist or worsen, AFC Oak Ridge is available to provide the pediatric care your child may need.

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 AFC Urgent Care Oak Ridge for quick and effective pediatric care.