Do we need to see a doctor for croup?

[amistillsexy]

My 6YO Ds has had a high temp (highest recorded 39.8, lowest 38.4) over the weekend and today. It reduces a bit with Calpol.

He has a barking cough and a headache, and feels sick constantly, although (luckily!) hasn't been sick yet!

Does he need treatment from a doctor, or is Calpol, fluids and rest the way to go?

If it's really bad he may need steroids from the doc.

Have you tried steaming the bathroom with him in it? Works wonders with mine. Also propping up the end of his bed and propping him up with loads of pillows.

I'd keep an eye on the headaches.
Also watch the chest, neck, and nostrils with the croup.
If the skin around rib-cage and neck is drawing in with breath, then go to docs/walk-in/a&e and def if nostrils flare.
The cough itself, I wouldn't worry about.

That combination of symptoms would worry me, I would take him to A&E.

Don't want to scare you, but these are also meningitis symptoms (you don't need to have a rash, depends on type of meningitis). I would not take any risk and get him checked.

Hope he gets better soon.

Are you sure it's croup, not anything else like flu or whooping cough? Anyway, if it's croup, just keep an eye and take him to a + e if struggling to breathe (just going out in the cold air can help with croup) but otherwise I've never taken mine to the GP.

He's breathing ok at the moment. To be honest, I thought you'd all tell me it was fine, and not to bother the doc.
I'll ring for an appointment in the morning. Thanks for the replies.

By the age of 6 they should be growing out of croup so if he is still getting it it would be worth speaking to your GP.

He's never had it before ChristmasJubilee. He had bronchialitis when he was about 2 but nothing else. Do you think that makes a difference?

I still think that it would be better to see a doctor with him, or otherwise, at least to call OOH/NHS direct.

I dont think mine grew out of croup till about 8 or 9.
They sometimes had hospital visits, if the steam treatment didnt work after about 3 goes.
Agree with what SilveryMoon said.

They had bronchilitis up to 2 years old, and asthma from then on.

Aw poor thing DD had croup but much younger (2) and needed steroids and monitoring in hospital (also needed an experienced nurse to wrestle calpol into her!).

She was diagnosed with croup by GP on the thursday and became really unwell v quickly after being sent home. So, keep an eye. The NHS Direct website has some excellent advice and signs to look out for, that warrant a trip to hospital. In particular if he struggles to breath when coughing (or not coughing) when either his stomach pulls up under his ribcage, or his neck pulls in as he breathes (you will know if you see it).

It also gives good advice on what can help. Putting him in the bathroom with the shower on as hot as it goes (don't put him in the shower though!) and th steam can help clear and reduce inflammation. Take him out for a drive with the window down and some cold air can sometimes help. Little pots of water on radiators to increase moisture to help breathe. If he can manage it, a face steam could help, but find out how to do it safely.

DO NOT give him any medicine such as medised or other sleep inducing medication as this can hinder his breathing further.

DD did not go to hospital via casualty, she was sent via GP who called the children's ward direct, so when we got there she was expected, and given checks/treatment straight away. but, the Gp had already seen her once and knew what was wrong.

I hope he feels better soon and you don't have to go to hospital.

I had croup as an adult

Are you sure it was croup OYMLK? Dont want to cross examine you, but I didnt know that could happen. I thought my kids days of croup were long gone.

Thanks for all your advice. I'm sure he's not in any danger. He's sleeping soundly, coughing a little in his sleep.
His breathing is steady.
He sat in a steamy bathroom for a long while tonight, and I've made him go out for a little bit of air each day he's had it (since Friday), so I'm glad I'm doing the right things (I felt very mean taking him out with a temp of over 39!).
Thanks all

glad he is sleeping ok, hope he is on the mend tomorrow.

Amillionyears, that's what the doctor said! It was awful! I was really ill with it. Ended up having to sit outside each night to ease the breathing.

Yes, you can get croup at any age but it is not very common in over 5's. Ds's 2&3 both have/had a floppy larynx which made every cough sound like croup. Ds3 also had bad croup which the dr said he would grow out of by the age of 5 or I should bring him back. He is one 6 and has not had croup for a while. He gets really bad coughs though.

Properly to hijack but DD was diagnosed with croup after a fun two hour wait to see the out of hours doctor at 1am this morning.

We've been sent home and she seems okay now now although a little hoarse. We have a Christmas party tomorrow - Should we be staying away from other babies or is it just like a cold that's gone wrong in her IYSWIM?

We were sent to hospital by ambulance last night as dd1 (7) woke up struggling to breathe. I mean seriously could not breathe at all. Turned out to be a fast onset of croup and she needed steroids to relax her voice box area so she could breathe again. She panicked too poor little thing :(

Horrid nasty bugs.

She is fine now! I'm knackered.

Didnt know it was possible to get croup as an adult. Yikes OhYouMerrylittleKitten. At least when you are a small child, you dont know everything that is going on.Plus which it normally comes on in the evenings when the child is sleepy. Have you had it just the once as an adult?

Now had an internet look. Didnt know when mine were younger, that it was contagious.
I remember foggy weather used to affect them, though that could have affected their asthma. Difficult to remember now.

We had DS seen the first time he had croup, which reassured us that was what it indeed was. After that I was more confident when the symptoms recurred and did not feel the need to have him seen again.

Just the once amillionyears, thank goodness. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!