Which feature is typical of croup?

• A. Drooling
• B. Barking cough
• C. High fever
• D. Sitting forward with drooling

Answer: (B)

Croup mainly presents with a barking cough caused by swelling around the larynx and subglottic area, which gives the characteristic seal-like, harsh cough heard in many pediatric cases. This cough is the most distinctive feature of croup and helps differentiate it from other airway conditions. Drooling and a forward-leaning posture with drooling are more typical of epiglottitis or other problems affecting the oropharynx, and a high fever is not as typical for viral croup (it’s often low-grade if present). So the barking cough is the best clue that points to croup.