Croup is characterized by a loud cough that resembles the barking of a seal, difficulty breathing, and a grunting noise or wheezing on breathing. At first a child may have an upper respiratory infection for several days before the onset of cough. If the upper airway becomes more obstructed, the labor of breathing becomes intense. Children with viral croup may have a fever.
Symptoms often worsen at night and with crying.
Possible airway obstruction is a major concern. The Nemours Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to children's health and is the largest physician practice delivering subspecialty pediatric care in the United States. Myers , and Pensacola . Inc. All rights reserved. KidsHealth and KidsHealth.org are Service Marks of The Nemours Foundation.