My almost 2 year old son has a very loud dry cough. during the night it does sound like a bark. could this be croup or bronchitis? should i take him to a gp today?

Assessment: He may need a short course of steroids. Continue to provide fluids, cool air mist and nasal saline drops. Monitor for fever and if there is a pattern of croup illnesses, further studies of his airway may be required. If the cough is croupy, most likely there is upper airway swelling or narrowing.

Croup: This sounds like croup. Croup is a viral process that effects the larynx. For adults they get laryngitis. For children there larynx is smaller and they develop croup. Symptoms typically last 3 days or so. The bark is a common symptom. If no signs of retractions or distress croup can be managed with cool mist of water.