Seal Bark Cough . As the name suggests, this barking cough cough produces a loud voice, and the sound turned hoarse. It is often referred to as croup. However, croup is a respiratory disease caused by viral infection and may not always be the cause of the barking cough. In the normal case, barking cough may be a result of the vocal cords are swollen due to the common cold. Throat (larynx) and windpipe (trachea) are usually infected by the virus. It is mostly seen in children under the age of 5 years.
Seal Bark Cough in Adults Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Barking Cough
Seal Bark Cough in Adults Causes
A cause that is regarded as the culprit in causing a croup cough is the inflammation of the larynx and the trachea. The larynx and the trachea get inflamed due to viral infections. Parainfluenza virus is found to be afflicting the trachea and causing it to swell up with redness and heaviness felt in the throat. Other causes of barking cough are as follows:
Influenza
Common cold and cough elevate and cause the throat to get scratched, thereby leading to irritation in the throat. When the throat is irritated, it leads to the person having a constant urge to cough due to which the bouts of cough become severe to endure.
Allergies
There are times when an individual is completely aversive to certain materials or herbs and cannot bear to stay in the vicinity of the same. Dust allergies, allergy due to mold infestation, varnish allergy and pollen allergy are some of the potential allergy types that prove to be a cause of severe cough.
Acid Reflux
It is when a person is prone to hyperacidity or gastrointestinal attacks that barking cough may occur. Often noticed after meals, there is an episode of regurgitation that attacks the digestive system. It is due to this that the individual may endure difficulty in breathing, leading to barking cough. When the cough becomes chronic in nature, it leads to asthma as well.
Pertussis
Also known as whooping-cough, this ailment is more common in children than adults. However, adults too could be victims of pertussis. Whooping cough is characterized by a 'whoop' sound that is caused at the end of each coughing episode. One is bound to experience wheezing, harsh coughing sound, watery eyes and runny nose with tongue seldom sticking out and turning blue in response to the intensity of the cough.
Barking Cough Symptoms
- Loud, barking sound when coughing
- Worsening cough at night
- Swelling and infection which makes it difficult to breathe
- High-pitched voice, called stridor, occurred during inhalation
- Increased respiratory rate
Treatment of Barking Cough
- Gargling with warm saline water three to four times a day. This will help soothe the throat.
- Adding a few drops of lemon squeezed in a glass of water, that could be sipped at regular intervals, helps soothe the throat and reduce strong bouts of cough.
- Stacking on a few pillows beneath your head while you sleep, especially during nighttime. With your head elevated, you are less prone to attacks or bouts of dry cough.
- Using Bee balm, also known as Oswego tea or horsemint is a perennial herb that helps fight cold, cough and flu. Place two to three leaves of bee balm into a glass of hot water. Keep the mixture covered for a few minutes. Just sip through the mixture a few times during the day. A very useful remedy, especially when your nasal passage is blocked or you have a severe respiratory infection.
- Inhaling steam and drinking lukewarm, or boiled water.
- Staying away from dusty environment that elicits sneezes and bouts of cough.
- Making a syrup by blending honey and fresh ginger pieces. Just ½ a teaspoon thrice a day may help in curbing the intensity of your croup.
- Drinking a hot beverage is a welcome when our nose runs a water supply for hours on end. However, besides drinking ginger tea, you may try onion tea. Cut one onion into four pieces and place it in water. Let the water boil with the onion added to it. The onion leaves its spicy juices in water. Drink the tea to soothe a scratched throat and open your nasal tract.
If these remedies do not work too well for you and there is no significant improvement in your state, you must:
Consult your doctor without any further delay.
Consider the antibiotic course administered to you by the doctor and completing the prescribed course. Leaving the course halfway can result in barking cough affecting you all over again. This is, indeed true with any medication course you take and holds good for the treatment for all conditions.
Accept and adhere to his advise of getting certain examinations conducted. CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a routine Hemogram to check your hemoglobin may reveal the discrepancies in your system.
With these remedies, one may be equipped to counter the causes and symptoms of barking cough. As mentioned earlier, barking cough in adults is less prevalent; however, one may not rule out its potency completely.