Croup

[MrsOs]

Last night our ds woke about 12.30am. With a horrible barking cough seemed to be really struggling to breathe... Took to a&e they said croup when they heard the cough and gave a steroid. Dr said we could come home and have another steroid dose to give later. This morning he seems ok with normal sounding cough. Is that normal? Has the steroid done its job?

He is 3 by the way... All the other kids in a&e were there for same thing!

Yes that's a normal pattern in my experience. Got a real fright with my 4 year old a couple of months ago. The worst is always at night.

Give him the second dose today anyway but not too close to bed or he might find it hard to settle!

Croup worsens at night and the steroid will have helped open the airways. He absolutely needs to finish the course prescribed though.

Poor thing, it's quite nasty and exhausting. The attacks usually come on at night and it can last about a week. Don't bother with the steaming the room thing though, apparently that's more useful for making the parrnts feel like they're doing something!

Normal pattern but it may well come back tonight - But hopefully less bad and won't need the a and e trip again.

We had it pretty rough as well, ambulance came twice
Definitely give a dose today as well and keep an eye on him tonight, and make sure his room is not too hot
They told us whenever it happens open the windows or take him out to get some chilled air

Oh crumbs i was hoping it would be ok now! It was really scary... So tonight if it happens again what do i do? Dr said cold air good for it and to go back if it gets bad.

It's rare it's as bad second time
He might start coughing but possibly not as bad as yesterday, so just remove his clothes and open some windows

If it's very very bad call an ambulance as you can't risk it really but honestly second nights are never as bad as the first ones

Dr said he was just at the very start and it might get worse before it gets better. He didnt seem last night to cough for that long but when he did it was horrible so hoping tonight wont be worse with the steroid now on board

Yes, this is exactly the pattern.

We called an ambulance for DS (3) last autumn as he was unable to breathe with croup. He had two doses of steroids, which opened the airways, and was kept in for observation on the children's ward.

Don't be afraid to go to A&E/call an ambulance if breathing is involved. I learnt of a 2 year old who died of croup recently, so sad.

DTs have spasmodic croup - we've had about ten episodes each this year. The warning signs of it's really bad are stridor when the breath in at the little hollow in their neck and use their tummy muscles (not a very good explanation - have a Google!) and drooling. If they're drooling or can't get a mouthful of water down its something to do with the epiglottis and needs and ambulance.

If in doubt though A&E.

We've been going through it for four years and I've asked the GP several times if we can keep a dose of the dexamethasone at home but they've always said no.

how he was last night reminded me of how i was when i had anaphalatic shock and couldnt breathe which is why i panicked

Totally understand, it's horrible!