Diagnose my child!

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

No temperature.

She woke yesterday with a croaky voice. This got worse throughout the day and by the end of the evening she could hardly speak, along with a barking/rasping sound when she breathed, or more specifically laughed! Slight cough, but more to clear her rasping or if she rasps to hard.

In the night, sounded like she was struggling to breathe due to severe rasping although she wasn't actually having difficulty (she was not in distress). Eased and able to go back to sleep with some ibruprofen (decided this instead of calpol as it reduces swelling and lasts for longer than calpol).

This morning, bit easier, but sounds like it is her windpipe/chest rather than throat? Her throat is a little red, but not spectacularly so, or too swollen.

Woke at 5am with slight runny poo but not really bad.

She is in fine spirits, perfectly happy in herself?

What is it?

[Wallace]

croup?

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

That concerned me too wallace (waves), as she has had this before. But isn't she too old for this? (3yo) Also, she is not poorly with it like last time, no fever, well in herself? I guess, it does not always follow a virus immediately does it?

The bark when she coughs and the sound of it, reminds me of when she had croup, and the raspy sound though

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Just looked up the symptoms, sounds very much like it could be, although she has had no cold symptoms.

Next question is - is this infectious? Friend is coming around with her baby aged not quite 1 and friend starts back at work/baby at nursery next week so I don't really want either of them to get a bug.

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

ds is 10 and he still gets croup, I checked with the paediatrician last time he was taken to hospital with this, she said some children take longer to grow out of it.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Fluffy - oh your poor DS, it must be frightening for him if he gets it bad enough to hospitalise each time .

DD was in hosp last time but only for one day luckily, although she probably should have gone in earlier than she did. She was poorly for several weeks.

I will keep an eye on it. Is ibruprofen the best thing for it, or calpol? I was thinking ibruprofen as it reduces the swelling of the windpipe?

[difficultdecision]

Sounds like croup. Definately not too old - I've seen it in whole families including the adults!

Yes it is infectious - it's a viral infection of the larynx and trachea.

Hope it settles soon - calpol or ibuprofen if she has a temperature or the coughing is painful as that will make the breathing worse. Cool drinks and cool air are helpful (which is why they are often better by the time they get to A+E in the middle of the nigth) and a calming parent makes all the difference.

If you think she actually IS in distress or is unwell in herself (sleepy, not drinking, temperature not coming down) then get ye to the doctors but do it calmly as far as she can tell (you can panic inside) as the breathing and choking feeling gets worse when they are shocked or paniced.

Hope she feels better soon.

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

It's exactly the same as laryngitis, cool air does make a difference, I'm not sure about ibuprofen though so you'll have to tell me if it works.
Ds is asthmatic aswell which is not fun.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

DS had this last year aged 7.
Definitely croup (laryngitis).

There's a breathing technique called Buteyko which helped in our case.
I got him to breathe through his nose and take tiny little 'mouse breaths.'
Afair, this enables the correct mix of gases to occur in the lungs and ultimately helps the airways to open.
In our case, it calmed him down and returned his breathing to normal, although he was still pretty wiped out by the virus.
It's highly commended by a lot of asthma sufferers.
Will post a link.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

here.
You'll find a lot more information by googling 'Buteyko' also, iye.

[mummytowillow]

Sounds like croup to me, sit in the bathroom with the shower on red hot and let her breath the steam in, works wonders for my DD.

BUT if it sounds really bad then its off to A&E possibly to be put on a nebuliser?

Hope she feels better soon.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Thanks everyone.

Alas she has developed a fever 39 at last check, has had both calpol and ibuprofen to get it down, and a cool bath in a steamy room (was suggested this by gp last time). She has been sipping weak cold squash as we have promised it will help her get better. Her fever came on quite quickly, she went from no temp at all to 38.4 then straight to 39 within 2 hours.

She says she feels poorly but is actually in very good spirits, she is happy in herself, not at all feeling sorry for herself and is settled asleep. She is wheezing, but is not in distress. I have the door open and keep checking on her.

Last time, she struggled to breathe so much that her ribcage and neck were pulling in by the time we got to the ward in hospital, but surprisingly she was getting enough oxygen. But that was nearly 2 years ago when she could not tell us what was wrong. Now she says 'mummy I snoring loudly aren't i?' and then practices!

She also has diaorhea, but not constant.

I am very annoyed with myself. My friend came over with her little on. I called her up first and told her the symptoms that DD had and said she might want to re-consider and she spoke to her DP and they decided to come over anyway, after being couped up for a week to avoid swine flu being passed on and now passed possible infectious stage (they did not have it but had been in contact with someone who had it, diabetic woman, baby under 1). I should have just said, we want to see you, but sorry can't come over. What if her little one gets this . I hope not.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

ourlady thank you ever so much for that link btw I will try it if she wakes up struggling to breathe.

Luckily, she does not seem phased by it, she just says 'i bit poorly aren't i mama' or 'i have a little cough don't I mama' or 'i snoring loudly cos my cold aren't i mama'. I am quietly panicking but not showing it .

She is nowhere near as serious as she was last time, but as I said, that was 2 years ago. She has hardly even had a cold since, I can't even remember last time she had a fever. I guess that is why I feel a bit and worried.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

ourlady that link might even help my DH who suffers from sleep apnoea, alhough will not admit it! I will show him it for sure!

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Is there a difference between laryngitis and croup in a child? Is it the same thing but one is adult version and one is child version?

at my ignorance!

I have just checked on her again, she is a little uncomfortable and wheezing a little, but her fever is right down now. She has just nappy, pj trousers and a blanket/comforter over her so she can air without getting cold.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Oh dear, couple of cries from her. First time, she was a bit barky, but ok, not settling very well.

Second time, she was really barking, appeared frightened and was wide eyed, struggled to breathe, I got her to calm down, and it eased, but did not stop, she was really wheezing, and crying. She was also desperately upset as she is awake and want to be asleep and that make her a bit angry more upset anyway.

She refused her drink, but I think that is mainly as she just wants to go back to sleep.

She kept saying 'mama! I sick! i really am sick mama' aw poor thing .

I called DH who is out to tell him I was going to call Dr, and then I called out of ours GP, s/he will call me back. In the mean time, she settled herself and although slightly wheezy has drifted off to a vague semblence of sleep.

But I am concerned, as although she has not fever now, she is getting worse not better.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

with myself! I had not clicked the button to finish the call on our stupid poncy digital phone and they just called! I knew I would miss a call as soon as the phone started to make a siren noise to let me know it was not hung up. I knew there would be a message!

Anyway, I am waiting for them to call back. Again!

She has settled again, of sorts, her breathing has eased a lot and she is only mildly 'snoring' now, just complaining in her sleep as she does when she is not sleeping soundly.

Poor baby girl. She is so rarely ill. I just go to shit when she is unwell. I would rather be ill for her.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Just spoke to gp, he asked a few things, is she asthmatic that kind of thing, asked about skin colour, pleased she had rosey cheeks as it means she is getting oxygen, he said it sound frightening and is possibly sounding more frightening than it actually is, good sign is that her fever has reduced easily with calpol/ibruprofen.

He said if the bark/cough/wheezing worsens at all or if she loses the red cheeks and becomes pale, they will come and see her.

He said as others have, steam inhalation (i am presuming the shower as already said, can't see me trusting her with a bowl full of boiling water at 3!) he also said any fluids at all, if she refuses water etc, offer flat lemonade/coke all the things she is not normally allowed.

How do you turn coke flat?

[piprabbit]

I think microwaving coke makes it flat? but then it needs to cool again....

Sorry probably not much help.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

lol, we have no microwave anyway! It broke 3 months ago and we have just not got around to replacing it!

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Right I am off to see if I can get some shuteye amidst the gentle ha! snoring of my croupy girl! (she is in our room with us due to building works, which is handy as it at least means she has her own bed rather than snoring AND taking up all my bed!).

[thumbwitch]

add water to coke, flattens it instantly

[piprabbit]

Perhaps a saucepan would have a similar effect?

Hope your LO is settling a little now?

Having spent more than the odd night sat in a steamy bathroom with a poorly child myself, my heart goes out to you both....