6Croup cough
Caused by a parainfluenza virus infection, croup is a respiratory illness commonly seen among babies and young children since they have smaller and softer windpipes. Parainfluenza virus infection causes the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and bronchial tubes (bronchi) to be inflamed, making it hard to breathe. One distinctive sign of croup is croup cough. When air is forced to pass through the swollen vocal cord, there is a harsh cough that sounds like a seal’s bark. Similarly, when inhaling air, narrowed vocal cords make a raspy tight sound, known as stridor. Croup at an early stage is very similar to a normal cold with the same symptoms such as fever, sneezing, runny nose, hoarse voice, and cough. When progressing, the situation may get worse and become life-threatening. For instance, some children might struggle to breathe due to the swelling of the airway, and others might face a secondary bacterial infection of the windpipe that requires emergency medical care. [6]
