Babies between the age of six months and three years are the most susceptible for a condition called croup, which is an inflammation of the voice box and windpipe. Once the child passes three, the windpipe has grown, meaning that swelling in this part of the body is not nearly as common. However, for smaller children, croup occurs as the vocal cords narrow and swollen, thus resulting in a strange, “croupy” cough.
Although babies and toddlers can get croup any time of the year, you see it most often in the fall to spring, when weather is cool and allergens are peaked. Keep in mind that croup is actually broken down into two specific categories.
1.First, there is spasmodic croup, which is caused by allergy or a slight infection of the upper respiratory tract. For parents, this type of croup is usually the most alarming in that the condition comes on quickly. In fact, it is common to hear a child coughing during the night when he or she went to bed just fine. The cough sound generally sounds more like a seal you would hear at the local animal park. With spasmodic croup, fever is rare and reoccurrences are common.
2.Second, you have viral croup. In this case, the child has a viral infection of the voice box and windpipe, which usually is associated with a cold. As the cold progresses, the baby or child’s airway narrows, making breathing more difficult. With viral croup, you would still hear the seal-like cough. Viral croup is far more serious, even getting to the point of serious breathing problems. In addition, you would see a low-grade fever with this type of croup.
Although croup is a common baby and childhood illness, it can be very serious, even life threatening. Therefore, if you begin to notice your child making the seal-like coughing noise or having trouble getting a good breath, seek medical attention immediately.