Croup - when did your dc grow out of it?

[Schulte]

DD2 is only 19 months old and has already had croup 3 times, each time requiring steroids. I am already bracing myself for another trip to A&E in the coming weeks. Those with children prone to croup... when did it start getting better and when did they grow out of it completely? Thanks!

[4nomore]

Didn't grow out of it until school age (although he never had it badly enough to require steriods - I think if he'd been seen during his worst bout on Boxing Day, when he was two he may have done). I guess it did peak around this time (age 2), the next winter was better.

[Schulte]

Thanks. Hmmmm, at least another 2 winters to go then. I don't know, maybe I take her to A&E too quickly, but when it's noisy breathing on top of the barking cough, and doesn't get better with steam or fresh air, then I just get scared

Should I learn to sit it out?

She may well get asthma - she's got eczema and an egg allergy already and I have allergies too.

[Schulte]

Thanks Pixie. I find the very noisy breathing alone frightening enough... I wouldn't want to wait and see if she turns blue, to be honest!

[Schulte]

I haven't. I stood at the open window with her for quite a while last time, and then sat in the steamy bathroom, but it didn't get the least bit better, worse if anything. So DH and I both decided that she needed to go to A&E. And he's usually much calmer, so if he thinks she needs to go then I know it must be quite bad.

We have some steroid suppositories at home - in Germany parents are told to just use them when their child gets croup - but somehow I am not keen on using them.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

DS grew out of it when he was 5 or 6, he had his last bout requiring a hospital visit in Year 1. Reading Pixie's list made me remember how I used to feel when it started. Gawd, I remember those chest/throat recessions.

I was told to count him breathing in a minute and when it got to a certain given number it was time to take him in. I honestly cannot remember what that magic number was now ( he is 11 )

He grew out of it completely, no legacy.

[wb]

Ds1 had croup repeatedly b/w the ages of 2 and 3.5. Since then none at all touch wood. He is 5 now and has moved on to ear infections (more painful but less worrying to mummy).