Croup cough - This is one of the common childhood viral illnesses and is usually fairly easy to recognize due to the distinctive characteristics that children exhibit when they become infected. Currently there is no cure for croup. However, there are different treatments that can help your child on his or her way to feeling better fast.

Here are some common symptoms of croup:

• o runny nose
• o brassy cough
• o hoarse voice
• o decrease in appetite
• o fever that may rise to 104 degrees F.

This disease is also known as laryngotracheobronchitis. It usually strikes children between the ages of 6 months to 3 years of age and is typically seen during the seasons of late fall, winter and spring. Symptoms will develop approximately 2 - 6 days after exposure to someone who had croup.

One of the distinctive signs of croup is the abruptness or the sudden onset of symptoms. Children may go to bed well and then may awaken late at night having trouble breathing and a croupy cough. The cough is very distinctive. It is a "barky" type of cough that resembles a barking seal.

Another common sign of croup is inspiratory stridor. This can often be confused with wheezing. However, stridor is caused by inflammation of the lung's larger airways.

The characteristic of croup symptoms usually follow a certain pattern. The child is often better during the day and becomes worse at night. If your child becomes agitated or anxious, it can cause symptoms to worsen.

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