CROUP

[Ezmum19]

Right... so my 7 month old had a cold a few weeks ago, recovered fine seemed well in himself! Saturday he woke up with a bit of a chesty cough (out of no where) now today it is very chesty and Barky. Rang gp and they gave me a call back and said that it will be croup, and there's nothing I can do apart from keep air moist and wet towels on heating steamy shower room etc etc. Now on the nhs website it says no cold medicine and no steam? CONFUSED. He has had nurofen twice today as he has been in pain clearly :( any advice? Last nights sleep was horrible for all of us 😫 ta x

Is he struggling at all?

Pulling in at the neck, nostrils, stomach , ribs?

What do you think he is in pain with?

We're told to do the steam until his appt but he always gets a steroid for it.

Is his breathing and temperature normal?

Just read again he's only 7 months old. Don't think a baby that young can have steroids (my gp won't until they're 2) bit I wouldn't be happy if I had a baby that age unless the gp had checked him.

We were prescribed a steroid too but told steam does help but NHS recommend against it because kids were being scolded by hot water apparently. I sit on the loo with mine and run the shower. Just do a few mins. The other good thing is cold air. It'll be worse overnight. Don't panic. Wrap up in lots of blankets and take outside for 3 or 4 mins to get some breaths in the cool.

If they start showing signs of blue tinge on fingers or lips, A&E. If they start struggling to breathe and are pulling in the skin between their ribs, A&E. If they go floppy and larthargic from a very high temp, Tey calpol then call 111 for advice if no improvement after 40 mins.

My kid had it for the first time last week Monday.

My 17 month old was prescribed the steroid so perhaps there is a cut off, but it'll be younger than 2. The steroid is only required is severe case apparently!

Another good thing is moist outdoor air. Wrap him up and take him outside for a short spell and the damp air will help open the airways. Both my two had croup and we found on one occasion that one of them got miraculously better on the way to see the out-of-hours doctor just being put into the car one night.

If he goes floppy.

DO NOT WAIT

Ring 999!!!!!!!!!!!!

The steam advice is out of date - there’s no evidence it helps. That said it probably does no harm unless you’re doing it in a way that risks scalding.

Keep up the painkillers - it’s an infection of the larynx and very painful for them. My eldest was very prone to croup and after his worst bout he developed a real phobia of food because swallowing was so painful.

I always found that wrapping them up and taking them out into the night air helped, though no idea if there’s any science behind it.

I’m a little shocked that your surgery is so blasé about a child they think has croup - keep a close eye as they can deteriorate quickly, and may end up needing an inhaler or other treatment.

Tip the head end of the cot, put books or similar on the head side, so his almost sitting up, but laying down if you get what i mean

At 7 months I would like a baby with possible croup seen tbh it can be mild but it can also be very serious depending on how badly your child is affected. It’s a horrible illness and if you’re concerned at all go to a&e.

Usually they’ll be given oral steroids (dexamethasone/prednisalone or a nebuliser to open up airways and observed in a&e or on a paeds ward. But at his age it’s possible it could be bronchiolitus and they shouldn’t really be suggesting anything over the phone without examining your child. I’d go via out of hours If you are still not sure/worried about him.

Just re read and saw that they havent even examined your baby...

As above, i would want my baby examined.

Very bad form of doctors surgery

Please, do not watch and wait if your concerned, go.
YOU WILL NOT BE WASTING ANYONE'S TIME!

Is he ok OP?

Wow didn't expect so many responses! So, last night was a real bad night again bless him not so much coughing but he really can't get comfortable. Lots of snot from his nose and lots of dribble. He is sleeping lots today breathing seems ok just a bit bunged up. I feel so useless :( I'm going to try and take him out in the fresh air later tonight as so many of you recommend that! He seems to little to be poorly!! Off to the doctors it is guys! X

Update! So we sat in the doctors for an hour yesterday! He was so good. Doc was brill, he has prescribed amoxicillin as he can hear crackling on left side of his chest :( so looks like a chest infection. Poor sod. We have had more milk over the last couple of days thank god! Let's hope he's on the mend 🥰 x

Oh I’m glad they’ve taken it seriously! Chest bugs are awful especially in such little ones.

I find GP triage can be quite blasé about dismissing things but the GPs themselves actually really good, especially with small children.