Is a croupy cough ever an asthma symptom?

Yes: Asthma has many symptoms that can include a cough. Typically the cough is described as dry but can also have a croupy nature. It is not uncommon to diagnose a child with recurrent croup as an asthmatic. Asthma is more likely if symptoms increased with exertion, more severe than a typical cold or associated with other asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.