Is it croup?

[Gooseygoosey12345]

DS (20 months) had a temp (not massively high) for a couple of days and then yesterday developed a horrible, almost barking type, cough and sore throat (you can hear it when he talks or coughs). I took him to the GP this morning, she checked him all over, no tonsillitis, chest clear, sats fine, slightly red ear. She gave him steroids for croup so I've administered it anyway to see if it helps, but I'm not sure that's what it is. Any advice on what I can do to help him?

Anyone?

Is it worse at night? It's a very distinctive barking cough. If you Google it, there's audio clips to compare it too. If it is croup, keep the room cool and keep them calm if they wake distressed when trying to breathe.

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It is a very distinctive barking cough, very painful sounding. It can also cause them to be noisy on the in breath as well (stridor).

The steroids usually work very quickly though, so fingers crossed for a much more settled night.

My son had croup. Awful barking cough, like a seal. We used to take him outside if it was cold (cold, fresh air helps) or boil a kettle and keep him in a steamy room.

Sounds like it. DS first developed it at a similar age. We were never prescribed steroids though and always had to take him in to hospital. If you have given him steroids he should improve. We were given a salbutamol inhaler too. There is croup, wheeze and stridor which all have distinctive breathing difficulties. I forget which is which as touch wood as Ada's (almost 5) hadn't had it for almost 2 years but from around 20 months to 3 years had around 6 episodes of croup

That should be 'DS (almost 5)'

Thanks everyone. I'd say last night was worse for coughing more often but sounded less harsh. Hopefully that will be the worst night. I think he's got a nasty cold which has then caused the croup. We've been keeping the windows open for cool air and been outside lots, hopefully it helps!