A seal-like cough: what to know

A seal-like or barking cough can occur when the upper airway is irritated or swollen, often alongside a viral cold. The same sound may be heard with other causes of cough, such as asthma, acute bronchitis, reflux or nasal drainage from allergic rhinitis. The cough’s tone is less useful than whether breathing is comfortable, whether there is a high-pitched noise on breathing in, and whether symptoms are progressing.

Sit the person upright, use a calm voice and offer fluids only when swallowing is easy. Remove smoke, perfumes and other irritants from the room. Avoid hot steam, forceful throat clearing and medicines that were not prescribed for that person. If the episode affects a child, contact a healthcare professional for age-specific advice, particularly when symptoms recur at night or after a cold.

Get emergency help if there is struggling or fast breathing, chest or neck muscles pulling in, blue or grey colouring, drooling, inability to speak or drink, pauses in breathing, or unusual drowsiness. Sudden onset after choking or an allergic exposure also needs immediate assessment. If breathing is worsening, do not wait for the cough to settle.

Could the sound come from the upper airway, asthma, reflux or nasal drainage? Was there a cold, choking event or exposure beforehand? What should we do if it returns, and which symptoms require emergency help?