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Original poster

Think dd has Croup - any tips?

53 replies

bigmouthstrikesagain · 06/09/2008 22:00

She is 2 1/2 (nearly) - today she has shown all the signs of a cold, very snotty etc. and tired, grumpy.

Gave her Calpol etc. and put her to bed as normal but she woke an hour ago very slightly feverish, congested with a barking cough and clearly having difficulty breathing in. She has settled again now (in bed with me) but her breathing is still laboured and the signs seem to point to croup - not severe but worrying as I have not come across it before.

Have tried to prop her up a bit with pillows and she will stay in room with me (dh has opted for the sofa). Is there anything else I could/ should do for her?

OP posts:
AvenaLife · 06/09/2008 22:46

Don't worry, it doesn't do anything according to the NMC.
It's not necesarily the severity and the noise, it's whether the child is able to manage, sometimes they get so upset and panic so much that they can't breath, this is when to call an ambulance (should call one if steam for 10 mins doesn't work or if the child is unable to talk). If it's mild (Ie, child can talk and they are not too upset, steam is the best way of treating it, otherwise it's steriods.

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 22:47

croup is not caused by congestion in the chest. it is caused by swelling in the throat which narrows the throat to the extent that breathing in becomes difficult. the sea lion bark is the most common symptom.watch out for a 'whooping' sound when she breathes in-this is called stridor. if that develops you need to take her to hospital.

if she turns over, check her tummy/chest.
there is a hollow at the base of the ribs-if that looks like it is sucking in-phone an ambulance as it is a sign of respitory distress. similarly if you can see the base of her throat'sucking in' as she breathes.

KerryMum · 06/09/2008 22:48

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themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 22:51

kerry-i posted while your post was coming up.

there are a lot of things i know very little about. one thing i DO know about is croup and i would NEVER take any chances to be honest.

KerryMum · 06/09/2008 22:54

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Elibean · 06/09/2008 22:57

HOrrid, horrid, I hate croup - dd1 had it fairly mildly, but it was still scary. I slept in her room for a couple of nights, and found keeping her calm helped - breathing was far worse when crying/upset.

It also seemed fine during the day (only a hoarse voice and slightly runny nose) and the cough only came at night, weirdly.

I agree with FairyMum, if she's sleeping she's probably ok atm....just keep an eye, and stay close, I would.

Live in dread of dd2 catching it, she has slight stridor and 'tugging' anyway due to a floppy larynx, so very hard to spot danger signs with her. But tis croup season now...

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 23:02

ds1 was bluelighted to hospital and taken to the resus room with croup.
he was in hospital for 3 days-hios oxygen levels were really low. it was TERRIFYING.
really really scary.

AvenaLife · 06/09/2008 23:03

That's terrible. You must have been petrified.

KerryMum · 06/09/2008 23:07

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Elibean · 06/09/2008 23:07

O god, mmj, awful

Is he past the age of getting it now?

My dd2 was v v sick with RSV her first winter, due to the larynx complication, I think croup for her would have me dialling 999 fairly early on after that experience!

Sorry, didnt' mean to hijack, and really hope OP's dd is ok tonight - and that you can all get some sleep.

Elibean · 06/09/2008 23:08

kerrymum, excuse the ignorance, but is a nebulizer like a humidifier, or is it like an asthma inhaler with mask?? I have both, just wanted to know in case dd2 did get croup this winter and I needed something urgently...

KerryMum · 06/09/2008 23:09

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 23:09

yes! thank god! we seem to have gone 2 seasons now without a bout whereas he used to get it very frequently and then pass it on to ds2.ds2 first hgad it at about 5 months.
it's a horrible infection. really horrid.

it wasn't me who called the ambulance-it wwas nhs direct. i was on the phone to them saying 'yeah-he's realy having trouble breathing-oh he seems to be falling asleep' etc etc!

Original poster
bigmouthstrikesagain · 06/09/2008 23:10

Thank you Kerrymum tmmj - I don't think I will call anyone dd is still sleeping and although her breathing is noisier than normal it has improved in the last 20 mins or so - she is shifting around so much (currently on her tummy with knees pulled up) it is difficult to see her chest but I know what to look out for. I think she is congested (very snotty today nose like a dripping tap)and if she has croup it is a mild case.

I know I will sleep very badly as I will be listening to her breathing and constantly checking all is still ok.

OP posts:
themildmanneredstalker · 06/09/2008 23:10

well-that's not strictly true. when you are an adult you get laryingitis. you don't get the same restriction because your windpipe is wider.

KerryMum · 06/09/2008 23:11

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AvenaLife · 06/09/2008 23:11

An nebuliser is a big asthma inhaler, it's steam with a steroid that's inhaled through a mask. They only give these in hospital as it's a higher dose of steriod, unless the child already has severe asthma in which case they may have one at home.

You should call an ambulance though.

Elibean · 06/09/2008 23:12

Well thats good (re your ds) here's hoping you've seen the back of croup for good.

My neice had it for the first time at 4 yrs old, but then she's tiny and had narrow airways.

And dh sounds as though he has it now...surely not....

Original poster
bigmouthstrikesagain · 06/09/2008 23:13

My God tmmj that sounds horrific - so sorry

OP posts:
Elibean · 06/09/2008 23:14

Aha, thanks for clarifying re nebulizer. I would always call an ambulance if I thought dd2 was struggling to breathe, given past experience with her (five days on HDU on CPAP at 4 weeks old) but just wondered if I had something I could use in an emergency if necessary.

We don't have one of those anyway!

Elibean · 06/09/2008 23:15

I'm glad she's settled a bit, BigMouth, hope you get some rest.

Original poster
bigmouthstrikesagain · 07/09/2008 08:28

Well we got through the night without another bad coughing fit - she was feverish in the early hours but nurofen helped.

Thank you for all the messages.

She is hoarse but quite chipper now. I on the other hand am fit for nowt.

OP posts:
AbbeyA · 07/09/2008 08:32

I was told by the GP that they would grow out of it at about 5yrs old and they did.

mummyhill · 07/09/2008 08:49

Wish I had sen this last night. Have been up half the night with a croupy little boy. He is still barking this morning though so what do I do OOH service, Walk in centre or A&E? Have been alternanting steamy bathroom with wraped in duvet in the garden till he calmed enough to doze off in the chair with me only to start the whole process again when he wakes barking.

themildmanneredstalker · 07/09/2008 10:26

mummyhill-i'd just take him up to a and e. thy will him him some steroid medicine that will make the hugest difference resally quickly.and they will never chide you for taking a croupy child.
an a and e dr once told me that stroid swere the only thing that worked and you shouldn't hesitate to take them in.

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