3. Cough
One of the most common symptoms of croup is a cough. The cough doesn’t sound like a normal cough but sounds more like a hacking sound instead. The cough may sound rattled, and you can usually hear the mucus as it moves around in the chest and airway during a coughing episode. Children often have a more severe cough, and the hacking sound is one of the earliest signs of the croup.
Cough medication can help reduce the frequency of coughing, but will not treat the underlying cause of the croup. The cough usually gets worse at night or early in the morning. Lying down can also make it worse. Some people find relief by sleeping sitting up or on their side. If the cough becomes too severe, a doctor may prescribe strong cough medication. The cough is typically the last symptoms to clear up after the infection is gone.