Just had ambulance out for Severe Croup any advice please

[LifesTooShortYOLO]

My DS 4 went to bed absolutely fine tonight and then about an hour ago woke up struggling to breathe and coughing like a seal.
We noticed his tummy was ticking in and retracting under his rib cage when breathing so I called 999.
They came within 5 minutes and said right away he has Croup. And have him some oral steroids dexamethasone I think.
They said it should work to calm the breathing down and the seal breathing rasping sound should ease off.
They were amazing.
But I don't know much about croup, what should I watch out for over night and the next few days? Is this steroid a one off dose that will nip it in the bud now or can it go bad again?
How long should it take to get better and go?
I'm so anxious I'm laid awake watching him sleep 😫

My kids had this a few times and it was weather related. It tended to go away after the steroid shot (or sometimes during the ride to the hospital, change of air I think).

It is terrifying I agree but you should try to get some sleep. Can you sleep in with him? My view is you don't need to but if you're worried that's the answer.

If it happens again do exactly what you did today, and while you're waiting for the ambulance sit in the bathroom with the shower on hot to get the air steamy.

Thank you for replying ThePlantsitter ☺️
It was really frightening as he's not had anything like this before.
The ambulance crew were amazing and said we did the right thing calling them out although I did feel bad.

We had this a few times with one DC when little, now a teen. Had an ambulance twice. The advice back then was to either take him to an open door to breathe in the night air or run a hot steamy shower and sit in the bathroom. Both did help. It did seem to be a change in the weather that did it. We borrowed a humidifier at one point which was also useful to have running in the bedroom.

My DS had croup badly enough he ended up in hospital three times (over a few years). Very scary.

We were told the steroids they gave DS would last 48 hours, enough to cover the next two nights when croup usually recurrs. He was fine after. No recurrence. Just keep an eye on him & check him at night when the temperature drops.

Don't feel bad about calling an ambulance. After the second time a lovely nurse said to call an ambulance next time as they can administer medication quicker than we can get him to hospital. His throat had almost closed up.

Oh no, croup is scary isn't it?! Hope you can both get some rest.

My youngest had a bad dose when she was about that age - sleeping a bit more upright seemed to ease it slightly, mine slept in a stroller sitting up slightly. Not ideal but it helped.

It tends to be worse at night so make sure the bedroom is well ventilated and have a drink on hand to soothe a dry throat.

I found my daughter had a really sore throat at the end of it from all the coughing so stock up ice poles!

Ah that’s scary 😧

Don’t feel bad, you did the right thing.

One dose is often enough. If he doesn’t improve then don’t hesitate to go to the hospital / OOH GP over the weekend. Or of any deterioration or further concerns about breathing call 999 again. Steroids usually start to work quickly though. We have always seen an improvement within 2-4 hours.

DD always seemed better when outside in the cool night air, so when she had croup we usually opened her window. On the last email route to hospital / OOB GP ah has often improved once outside and in the car. It’s always been at night and pretty cold.

So many typos especially latterly 😳

What I meant to say was that she often used to improve en route to the hospital / OOH GP and it was usually always at night and really cold outside. It seemed to make her more comfortable.

Croup is so scary, I had this with my DS (5) in the summer weirdly enough. Steroids did the trick and although he was still raspy for a day or two afterwards it was much more manageable.

Do not hesitate to go back to OOH if you feel breathing isn't improving. My little boy had three days of steroids and by day 2/3 there was a dramatic improvement.

Steroids work wonders. I found croup utterly terrifying, so I feel for you. The steroids worked within max 30mins so hopefully they’ll be much better soon.

Hugs ! Croup is bloody terrifying you did the right thing. My lo has it around a year old recently and I was on phone to 111 several times over the course of a few nights we ended up getting steroids and honestly they were like magic. Guidelines have changed and i believe the advice isn't for steamy bathrooms anymore but cold air so I wrapped her in a huge blanket and sat on the front doorstep with her and just sang to her quietly to distract / keep her calm. Having them upright helps as appose to laying down it's the only time I've ever co slept with her , not that I slept !

DD (5) had bad croup a week or so ago. Steroids really helped but she was off school for a week recovering- expect the cough and tiredness to persist for a good week. She had regular calpol for the sore chest and throat with all the coughing.

My gs is nearly 3 he's had croup 5 times it's horrific BUT they seem to tolerate it well it's us that go through it

When ds had croup we used the steamy bathroom & also put a wet towel on his bedroom radiator, then soaked it again when it dried out.

My boy has been blue lighted to hospital before with croup. Terrifying. They said not to do steamy shower, that outside to cold air would help, but the main thing is keep them calm so not to make the breathing worse. Last time he had one dose of dexamethasone and was fine about an hour later.

My ds suffers with severe croup complicated by him being immunocompromised and havin asthma we’re actually just waiting to go gp for a bad cough the worst he’s been is blue lighted and resus the most he’s needed was 2 nebulisers Adrenalin and 3 doses of steroids he’s 7 and really should’ve outgrown it by now I was told as there airway grows it gets less severe and goes away. It is s terrifying feel for you op humidifier was very helpful also sleeping upright and keeping them calm hope lo is better soon