Quick question - DS woken up with croupy cough

[fluffytowels]

Was fine when he went to bed.

Now barking like a seal.

Do I need to do anything? Will he be OK just to go back to sleep?

My DS had this last month and was actually gasping for breath so took him to A&E. They gave him steroids so he was much better in 15 mins then though we had to stay for 2 hours while they observed him. On the way there, he was sitting up which improved his breathing - could you prop up your DS's bed or use pillows (depending on age) so he is half-sitting up to help?

It came on very suddenly with mine but was so severe it did worry me. I would keep an eye on his breathing at least and take him to get looked at if you are concerned. Sorry, not the best reply I know. Depends if he's actually gasping/wheezing or it's 'just' a wheezy cough maybe.

DS2 has had this, and we just rubbed his back and chest to relax his muscles and I fed him (he is only 8 months and BF) and then put him back to bed. Today it had been going on for four days, so I took him to the GP and she prescribed an inhaler for him - which was fun trying to get an 8 month old to use a spacer!

You could try sitting him in a steamy bathroom for a while.

How old is he?

Obviously if he is gasping and really struggling then that is a different thing - EightiesChick that sounds really scary.

www.patient.co.uk/health/Croup.htm
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the last 2 paragraphs is what you need.
Croup tends to get worse at night and be better in the day.

Thanks. He's gone back to sleep now and seems ok.

I just worry going to sleep

Steam is supposed to help and calpol if he's hot, but if he is not distressed, give him a drink to sip and just talk to him gently to keep him calm.
My DD had this last week, I propped her bed up slightly on bricks at the head end, also i put a wet towel on her radiator to help keep the room slightly humidified and took her in the shower with me.

Alibaba yes, it did really scare me. There was no way my DS was going back to sleep so think the OP's situation is different.

fluffy can you leave doors open etc so you can hear him more easily if he wakes again? Also try propping the bed up with heavy books, boxes etc if you can do it without waking him.

We have still got DS2 in with us actually, which I think made me not worry so much. And actually we had him in bed with us for most of Saturday night because me holding him propped up on my pillow seemed to help him.

They're actually saying cold now for croup, so if it gets worse and you can bare it, try sitting in the freezer (I have Raynauds and fibro, ended up stuck on the kitchen floor for a few hours the other week as I couldn't get back up lol).

If his breathing becomes distressed, get him straight to hospital. That is if he's using his abdominal muscles and the gaps between his ribs, at the base of the breast bone and that little V at the top suck in when he breathes.

If he gets really bad (they can just suddenly wake up and be really bad) then call an ambulance, they can treat it until you get to hospital.

Usually croup is nothing but it can be bad so don't worry too much but keep your eyes out.

Ds had it croup twice. The first time it cleared by itself no problems.

The second it was an ambulance to a an e job an bloody scary!

We were reccomended against trying steam but told to take him straight outdoors if it happens again as the cold shocks the system back to normal.

He was OK overnight. Woke at 2 am and I gave him done nurofen. He woke this morning still with a bit of a cough.

Will see how tonight goes. He's nearly 3 so, on reflection, it may be just a cough but definitely has the croupy noise.

Nurofen is good as it brings down the inflammation of their airways. Cold air has the same effect, which is why they now tell you to take your child outside into the cold air (wrapped up well, of course).

It's also quite important to try and calm your child down to regulate their breathing. Worth ringing the GP and asking if steroids are necessary, as they can make a huge difference.

My little one had the same, it started off as a croupy cough but has now settled into regular cold/ cough symptoms. My oldest has croup as a baby and it was bloody awful, but as someone said further up, steroids at hospital did the job. So, if you think it's croup then definitely go in, but It may just be this cold-y bug that's going around

Steroids are only given in serious cases and (here anyway) only if the dr actually here's the cough. In most cases nothing other than tlc and some nurofen/cold air can be done

That's interesting about the cold air. I have asthma and my experience is the other way around with that - ie a blast of cold air (say, when you set off from your house on a cold winter's morning) can make me feel quite wheezy. Maybe it's a different kind of inflammation. Anyway, would try whatever is supposed to work (within reason!) Glad your DS seems to be improving now fluffytowels

Eightyschick.

DS has asthma and is the same going out in the cold normally, but when he had the croup going outside did help calm his breathing right down.

steroids are actually now the standard treatment. one small dose dispensed by gP. new NICE guidelines I think. WOrked a treat for ds last time

DD2 suffers from croup. She was hospitalized the first time around. We then bought a humidifier (cheap from Lidl) and we put that on whenever she gets croupy and it really helps alot. We've avoided hospital since that first time, tho' the cough has been quite barking.

Asthma affects the lungs, croup is in the throat. Croup is inflamation which is why cold helps, when you think about it any sore throat type infection you tend to treat with cold.