What the ‘seal bark’ cough sounds like in children and when to see a doctor

CROUP is a common childhood illness that causes the airways to swell and breathing problems.

A telltale sign of the condition is what the NHS calls a “barking cough”, which has been likened to the sounds seals make.

Getty – ContributorCroup can cause a distinctive cough that sounds like a seal bark[/caption]

But for parents whose children haven’t battled a bout of croup, this can be pretty hard to imagine.

The illness can also cause what’s known as stridor – a high-pitched “creaking” or whistling sound when your tot breaths in that’s caused by a narrowing of airways.

Tali Ditye, co-founder of Mommyhood101, pulled together examples of what croup’s “seal bark” cough and stridor sound like, so that parents know to spot it if their little one falls ill.

She shared sound bites of one baby drawing in croaky breaths in between cries, and another making a distinctly seal-like sound.

“Remember your great aunt Sally who smoked for 40 years? Suddenly your baby will begin to sound like her!” Tali wrote.

From the causes of croup and its symptoms, to how to treat the illness in your little one and when to be worried, here’s everything you need to know about the common childhood illness.

What is croup and its symptoms?

Croup tends to affect babies and young children’s airways.

Your little one will probably have cold-like symptoms to begin with, including a runny nose, fever and slight cough.

But symptoms can change after a few days as the disease moves from the nose to the lungs.

According to the NHS, they include:

A barking cough that may sound like a seal

A hoarse voice

Difficulty breathing

A high pitched, rasping sound when breathing in – this is what’s known as stridor

Your tot’s symptoms may seem to improve in the morning but worsen as the day goes on, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

They’ll often be the worst at night, keeping your child from sleep or waking them up.

Dr Sanjay Mehta, a GP at the London General Practice, told the Telegraph: “Children often get symptoms leading up to croup for around three days – the standard, non-specific respiratory symptoms, a runny nose, fever, coughing – just a normal cough – and then it can progress into croup, with its distinctive seal-like cough.

“Sometimes breathing can change – it will be louder, and you’ll see your child working harder to breathe.

“And while the cough can be the most alarming feature, the cough itself is not necessarily the thing doctors would be the most worried about – that would be breathing issues.” 

Most children will feel better within three to seven days.

What causes croup?

In most cases, croup is caused by a viruses like the:

Parainfluenza virus – this tends to be the most common culprit

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Influenza virus

Adenovirus

Enteroviruses

So your tot might experience a mild respiratory infection before the virus causes their airways to become inflamed and their symptoms progress to croup.

Who is most vulnerable to the illness?

Younger children are more affected by croup because their airways are smaller, Jonhs Hopkins Medicine noted.

“A small amount of swelling can make it really hard for a child to breathe,” it wrote.

Croup can also affect adults as well as children, though it won’t last as long as their airways are more developed.

It’s most commonly seen in children aged three months to five years old and is more common in the winter than other times of the year.

According to Dr Metha, croup can be very contagious.

This means it’s important to your tot away from other children who have croup, as “it’s air-borne and gets passed very quickly from person to person”, he told the Telegraph.

And if you or your little one have the illness, it’s best you don’t come into contact with people who have weakened immune systems.

Croup sufferers will be most infectious for about three days after symptoms first appear – especially when they’re coughing and expelling germs, Dr Metha went on.

It’s also best to keep them home until their fever has passed.

How can I treat my little one if they have croup?

You can treat a mild case of croup at home.

Make sure you get your little one sitting upright to keep their airways clear.

Keeping them calm and comforting them when they’re distressed is important too, as crying can worsen symptoms.

Give your tot plenty of fluids and check on them regularly, including at night.

You can given them paracetamol or ibuprofen to help bring down a high temperature or ease any discomfort.

“Do not put your child in a steamy room or get them to inhale steam,” the NHS stressed.

When should I be worried?

Most children will get over their symptoms within 48 hours but parents should be primed to act on certain worrying symptoms.

 Dr Ruth Whitby, a GP at the Cleveland Clinic, told the Telegraph: “If they’re really having difficulty breathing, which you’ll notice because they don’t talk anymore and don’t want to eat, or if their breath sounds become very faint, you need to call 999.

“And, if the child shows inconsolable agitation and distress and just can’t get comfortable, that can often mean they’re not getting enough oxygen.

Also watch for the skin becoming very pale or very dark, almost with a blue-ish tinge,” she went on.

The NHS urged parents to call 999 or go to A&E if they notice their child making grunting noises or see a sucking motion under ribcage – these are telltale signs of breathing difficulties.

Being sleepier than usual, or unusually quiet, still or floppy are also red flag signs to get some help.