If you are a parent, chances are you’ve been rousted out of bed at least once by the barking cough of croup. Croup is a catch-all term for childhood inflammation and swelling of the area of the throat that includes the vocal cords.
This swelling blocks airflow through the windpipe (trachea) and triggers coughing that sounds a lot like a seal. Sometimes it might make sense to take your child to the doctor, but probably not. In most cases, croup is usually mild and will go away on its own.
