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Laryngitis subglottica
A barking cough at night — frightening, but cool air and calm usually help quickly.
Also known as: croup · viral laryngitis · barking cough
Open in the tool — with search and all the links →This compilation is for information and replaces neither medical diagnosis nor treatment. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.
A usually harmless, virus-triggered infection of the upper airways in young children, with swelling just below the vocal cords. Typical signs are a barking cough, a hoarse voice and a whistling sound when breathing in — often quite suddenly at night, which understandably frightens parents. The attack usually settles within a short time. Calm and cool, moist air help. Important is knowing when medical help is needed: with marked breathlessness, a whistling sound even at rest, or bluish lips, seek help immediately.
Agitation and crying worsen the breathing — calm is the first and most important help.
Fresh air at an open window or in a cool room often eases the attack quickly.
An upright position eases breathing; small sips soothe.
With severe breathlessness, stridor at rest or bluish lips, get medical help immediately.
Pick the child up calmly, go to an open window or outside, hold it upright, speak calmly.
Pick the child up, speak calmly, distract; cool small injuries and stay there.
The barking cough almost always comes at night and its worst phase lasts two to three nights; altogether it is over in three to seven days. A single dose of cortisone works within two to four hours and lasts twenty-four to forty-eight hours — which is why one dose is usually enough. Cool, damp air at an open window is the home route; for steam, studies could not establish a benefit.
A single dose of cortisone works within two to four hours and lasts twenty-four to forty-eight — which is why one dose is usually enough, and why it is given even in milder forms. Inhaled adrenaline works within minutes, but only for two to three hours; it can come back afterwards, which is why observation follows. Steam and hot showers achieved nothing in studies; cool night air at an open window is the home route that helps many.
The unmistakable, seal-like cough.
Due to the swelling in the larynx area.
Often at night; if it disappears at rest it is usually harmless.
A high fever with a very unwell child should be assessed.
Fever, sweating and faster breathing clearly raise the need. Drinking enough keeps the mucus thin and the circulation steady — in children and older people it is the most important point of all.
With low levels airway infections occur somewhat more often; correcting a deficiency makes sense, a high single dose during the infection does not act on it.
Needed by the defence cells. For lozenges at the start of a cold there are hints of a slightly shortened duration; at a high dose over months zinc lowers copper.
Antibodies and defence cells are protein. After several days with little appetite it is worth at least keeping the protein up — soup with egg, quark, yoghurt, lentils.
Clearly worthwhile and well studied when deficient; fewer data for the wider uses. Fat-soluble — check blood levels at high doses.
A single dose of cortisone works reliably here and within hours — one of the clearest effects in children’s medicine. The complaints come in the evening and at night because the body’s own cortisol is lowest then.
The barking cough mostly comes at night. Staying calm, cool moist air and sipping help — with breathing distress and drawing-in of the chest the emergency department counts, not the drink.
Cool moist night air at the open window eases the barking cough — the classic home remedy, and it helps. With breathing distress and drawing-in of the chest, the emergency department counts.
checked 2026-09