Barking Cough

Barking cough is generally referred to as a croup or residual dry cough. Croup causes inflammation in the upper parts of the larynx and trachea. This leads to cough or hoarseness in the voice. It is often caused by parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This type of cough is very common in children and it generally attacks them between the age of six months to three years. However, it can affect adults as well. In most of the cases, mild cough can be cured at home, but if not treated on time it can lead to barking cough, that can even be life-threatening. Some kids are more susceptible to cough when infected by viral upper respiratory infection. A croup can result in sudden coughing at night accompanied with noisy and harsh breathing and stridor. When it comes to adults, this condition is very rare, and in acute cases, it is accompanied by stridor and breathing difficulties.

As we know that cough is a very mild illness, but it can also lead to some serious conditions that may require urgent treatment. Some extreme conditions might be dehydration, breathing difficulty, and short breathing problem. A severe bacterial infection in the upper airway can also occur and the infected epiglottis can cause swelling known as epiglottitis and may require immediate treatment. It might also cause ear infections and pneumonia, however, that is a rare scenario! It mostly attacks children rather than adults. Here are some symptoms, causes, and treatment options for this condition. Have a look...

Causes

Cough is usually caused due to a viral infection. Parainfluenza virus makes the body susceptible to other viruses like respiratory adenovirus, measles, influenza, or syncytial virus that causes croup. Kids can contract this condition due to breathing in the infected droplet. They can also get infected by touching the toys and objects exposed to viruses. This illness can enter the body through the use of contaminated objects as well. Bacteria, inhaled irritants and allergies can also be a cause, but to a lesser degree.

Symptoms

Before the onset of this ailment along with croup, the child may suffer from mild, dry cough and sore throat. Usually, this type of cough becomes active and worsens during the night. The frequent coughing might create problems while breathing. If you find that the patient is facing trouble in swallowing, skin turning blue, or is drooling, then immediately seek medical care. Call a doctor if you find the breath of the patient extremely noisy and irritable.

Home Care

Mild cough can be cured at home by using natural cough remedies. You can keep the air moist by setting mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room. The intake of liquid diet should be increased to avoid dehydration. Keep the patient in the airy room or take him out in the cool weather so that he or she doesn't face any problem in breathing. If the infection persists even after taking all these precautionary measures, then immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Medical Treatment

When the cough becomes severe, immediate medication is required. The treatment can be done with aerosolized racemic epinephrine that can be injected, inhaled, or taken orally. Corticosteroids is the oral form of aerosolized racemic epinephrine, and helps in reducing the swelling in the upper parts of the larynx and trachea. In some cases like breathing problem, the patient might also require oxygen.

When this type of cough is caused due to Tourette's Syndrome (a neurological disorder), rabies, epiglottitis, and croup, it might result in dryness while you cough. A simple way to stay away from it, is to frequently wash your hands and avoid contact with sick people. Timely vaccines and scheduled immunizations can provide a protective shield to the larynx and trachea from getting the infection. Above all, consuming a healthy diet will keep you away from all the problems. So, eat healthy and stay healthy.