What Causes Throat Tightness And Dry Cough In An Infant?

Posted on Sun, 8 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 8 May 2016 Answered on

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Dear dr

My 18 mth boy woke up in the middle of his sleep and it seemed he had trouble crying out as if something is stuck in his throat. The cough is dry n he is whining. He refused to drink fluid too. I'm so afraid something is stuck at his throat. But he still smile when we played with him.

The cough had a dry end. I don know how to describe it. No phlegm or anything. He did had a little runny nose in the morning though. But otherwise normal

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be croup or laryngitis - if he has stridor take him to emergency room

Detailed Answer:
Hi.... by what you quote I feel that he might be having a starting stage or a mild form of croup or acute laryngitis or acute laryngotracheobronchitis.

If he develops stridor a noisy breathing during inspiration then I suggest that you take him to the nearest Emergency Room.

Meanwhile what you can do at home is - not to irritate him or agitate him. Keep him as comfortable as possible.

Do not try to give any medicines because that might agitate the child.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar