Croup: When a Baby Sounds like a Dog Barking

Croup is a sickness that occurs in babies when they’re
having difficulty breathing. The baby’s upper airways have become irritated and
swollen, making the vocal cords narrow. Breathing then becomes noisy, resulting
in coughing that has been said to sound like dog barking or a high-pitched
seal. When the baby cries, their voice sounds very raspy. This condition is
more common in boys than girls, is more likely to occur during the fall and/or
winter, and children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years are at the most
risk.

Croup can either be viral or spasmodic, resulting from an
infection. Viral croup affects the larynx (voice …read more