Spasmodic croup tends to affect children younger than age 3, but unlike viral croup, it is not necessarily triggered by an infection. Although there is some swelling of the breathing passages, there is usually no severe damage to the lining of the airways. Symptoms and Signs Initially viral croup displays symptoms similar to those of a cold , for example, a stuffy nose, runny nose, and sneezing. Then the classic barking cough tends to appear and as the airways narrow, breathing becomes more difficult. Symptoms are usually worse at night and may increase in severity for several nights in a row before they eventually subside.
Fever is usually mild.
Spasmodic croup usually causes a barking cough and breathing difficulties that awaken the child during the night. Often, the child will not have had a fever or signs of an upper respiratory infection beforehand. The croup episode usually passes within a few hours, causing only a mild cough and some hoarseness the following morning. Diagnosis and Treatment A doctor diagnoses croup based on its symptoms. Generally, most cases of viral croup are mild.