Mumsnet Talk

Update on ds, we had him at the docs this afternoon. He's got tonsillitis, they've given him antibiotics and advised us to keep him dosed up on calpol. Poor little sausage.

Thanks for all your replies. I think it is croup. Poor little thing had an awful night but seems a little better this morning. Rung the docs and got him an appointment for this aft. Thanks again for your help.

Try a steamy bathroom or a bowl of hot water and a towel.

I have a cup with a facemask on it that I used for just this purpose for my DD who seemed to constantly have croup.

My eldest DS gets croup a lot. Here is a list of what we do. Some has been mentioned before.
1. Nurofen first then calpol 2 hours later. His croup always worse with high temp.
2. Steam inhalation already described with the shower. Stay in the bathroom for about 10mins.
3. Wrap child in blanket and take them outside. The cold air is really good at opening their airways.

If none of the above works you need to phone NHS24 so a doctor will come out with steroids.

Yes, cold air.
Comes on in the middle of the night, sounds like a seal. Unmistakeable.

An A & E doctor told me that often kids are brought in for croup and the action of taking them out in the cool moist air often sorts them out as they come into the hospital. Open the window and get some water vapour going - ie go in the bathroom, open the window, and run the shower on hot.

Good luck

I meant concerns with his breathing.

Sounds like croup. Cough like a dog/seal
Croup is an viral infection of the upper airways that can cause noisy and difficult breathing.
How's his breathing? Any noisy breathing on inspiration or increase in his rate or effort of breathing.
Give him some Calpol for the fever. If you have any co vee switch his breathing take him into A&E (by ambulance if necessary) Often needs some oral or inhaled steroids which works well in most cases.
Hope that makes sense, typing as I feed

It's croup. Try opening a window to let cold air in it sometimes helps the cough. Keep him calm.

He may need steroids but it might pass on its own. Ime the first night is usually the worst, dd is 2 and has had it 3 times - 2 times needing steroids at 3am! If you are worried about his breathing just call NHS back - if you say his breathing is worrying you they should put you straight through.

Don't panic though - definitely heard parents talk about this type of cough without it turning out to be anything scary.

YY Croup. Both mine had it recently. Sounds dreadful and the high temp makes them feel really poorly, but he'll get better in a few days.
If he wakes up and can't sleep for the coughing, or to make him feel better in the morning, run the shower and sit with him in the steamy bathroom. The steam really helps loosen the chest and eases the coughing.
Calpol or similar for the temperature.

They should phone back soon, especially for a child. If not, ring again.

The barking seal noise is usually croup (inflammation of the trachea).

My ds who is just 4 woke up 40 mins ago, with a temperature of about 39, and a peculiar sounding cough, which sounds like a seal barking. I rang nhs direct who went through the assessment with me, and then offered to call me back, but this could be in 8 hours time. Has anyone had a child with this funny sounding cough before? I've given him water and nurofen, should I put him back to bed and keep checking on him, or should I mither nhs direct some more? Thanks in advance for anyone who has any advice.