Croup - best thing to do?

[barneymcgroo]

I think my DS(11mo) has croup. Started coughing and a bit wheezy last night, but more so this morning. I got an appointment today, but annoyingly he was miraculously better while we were there, then worse again after.

He's asleep now, but wakes every 45 mins or so and I feed him back to sleep (still BF, and any intention I had of stopping is going out the window). He's a bit wheezy in his sleep, on the inhale, and when he wakes is a bit barky. He doesn't sound well, but I don't know at what point to take him to A&E. Anyone with any guidance?

Anyone?

In my experience Croup happens suddenly at night ( in my sons case) He will wake suddenly and literally be coughing. It’s a very distinctive cough ( like a dog coughing with a stick stuck in its throat) It’s awful. My son also finds it difficult to catch his breath and when it’s a bad episode will stand and walk around really distressed repeatedly barking. The fastest way to alleviate it is to open a window and get cool air in the room. Only needed ambulance and steroids once.

How is your son today? Did the doctor examine his chest for ‘ crackles’ or wheezing? My son suffered similar symptoms to your DS when was about the same age and it turned out to be bronchiolitus(sp).
Did your GP give any advice?

Croup has a distinctive ‘barky’ cough . It gets worse late at night. If child struggles to breathe , take them to out of hours for a steroidal medicine that provides instant relief.

Thanks all - last night was horrible, and he spent most of the night trying to sleep upright on me. Back to the doc today - listened very thoroughly to his chest, ruled out bronchiolitis, and said it's croup. Had a dose of steroids, and he's so much better this evening. Will keep an eye on him overnight and hope all better in the morning.

Why do these things always happen on a Friday?!

Keep the sleeping room cool to very cold. Croup is an inflammation of tissue, to calm the inflammation you need to keep the tissue cool.

I know that very few people admit this, but put a small pillow under the baby's head, it raises their head and stops the slime from coming up their neck.

It is hard work for you, but it helps.

All the best

I’m a bit late to the party here, but glad you got back to the Doc for steroids. One dose is usually enough but do go back tomorrow if he’s still wheezy or coughing incessantly. Sometimes they need a second dose.

Hope you have a better night tonight!

Thanks all - so much better. The steroids were magic. Big bouts of coughing, but we all slept much better. And now we know it's croup, keeping the room cooler helped. (Before we didn't know if it was bronchiolitis or croup, and the advice is rather conflicting...)