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Children's health

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Original poster

Croup- if he's had it once is it likely he'll get it again (please say no!!)

24 replies

zebedee1 · 21/10/2008 18:35

DS recently had croup which was vile, he ended up in hospital on steroids etc. I was just wondering, are some kids more susceptible to getting croup and get it more than once or is it just like chicken pox or D&V which seem to strike any time?
Thanks!

OP posts:

piratecat · 21/10/2008 18:39

I think they are, sadly. My dd coughed for about 2 yrs at night with an asthma type thing, and now if there's a virus going round it always goes to her chest. She has had croup and the steroids about 4 times between about ages 4-6. Thankfully she is growing out of the night time cough, and hasn't has probs since about 5, altho she had croup again last winter when she was 5.5.

how old is your ds zebedee1?

Original poster

zebedee1 · 21/10/2008 18:46

Oh bugger I thought that might be the response Piratecat!!
I'm glad to hear your DD is growing out of her night time coughing. DS is 17 months and like your DD often has a cough at night or when he has a cold or is teething. My Dr reckons he'll grow out of it, hope so!

Did your DD ever have an inhaler piratecat?

OP posts:

LIZS · 21/10/2008 18:49

Some are, some aren't susceptible to it again. Sorry no obvious pattern.

Kewcumber · 21/10/2008 18:51

normal age for croup is 0-3yrs they only get it because of the shape/size of their windpipe so they do defintiely grow out of it.

5 is about the oldest I've heard of it though.

DS also hospitalised on steriods last week (he's nearly three) but only for one night. I';m hoping its a one off as he hasn;t had problems before.

Croup is just a viral infection of upper respiratory tract - in adults/older children it will just be a cold (or similar) lots of differnt viruses casue it so no, not like chicken pox sadly.

2point4kids · 21/10/2008 18:54

Sorry I think once you get it once you are more likely to get it again.
Ds had it first as a baby and he had it most recently at just turned 3 years old (with a few other times in between)

mummyplonk · 21/10/2008 18:59

It is scary isnt it Zebedee, we had paramedics out to DS twice with attacks. Not sure if relevant but he is 3.5 now and just had his tonsils removed, have noticed a massive improvement in his general breathing & nightime sleeping, when croup often appears. If you have noticed any other resp problems or serious snoring (day & night in DS's case) might be worth getting them checked.

hertsnessex · 21/10/2008 19:01

my cs1 is nrly 5 and hasnt had a full on attack in a yr, but in winter can sound 'croupy' without it becoming a full blown episode.

i use homeopathic stuff to help him now.

i know how scary it is, we had to call an ambulance quite a few times since he was 6mths old.

hope it was a one off for you all

Original poster

zebedee1 · 21/10/2008 19:06

Thank you all for your advice, I'm glad to hear that they do grow out of it as their wind pipes get bigger. It is so scary though, especially as my DP was away on a business trip when DS had his attack and I was alone in the house with a child who was struggling to breathe.

I guess at least I know what it is now, a humidifier in the room did seen to help a bit aswell.

What homeopathic stuff do you use hertsnessex, does it help?

OP posts:

Bride1 · 21/10/2008 19:15

I'm afraid my daughter, just ten, still occasionally gets croupy coughs. It's not as bad as it was when she was little but it's definitely still a wheezy cough emanating from her throat, rather than her lungs. (We know about the latter because she also has asthma). It's not as serious though as it used to be, not by a long way.

I know another boy in our village who also still gets croupy coughs, but again, not as seriously as when they're little.

Kewcumber · 21/10/2008 20:15

humidifier, steaming, baths showers do all help with milder attacks. I turn the shower on hot for 10 mins so the bathroom is really steamy before giving DS a bath at bedtime.

Kewcumber · 21/10/2008 20:15

humidifier, steaming, baths showers do all help with milder attacks. I turn the shower on hot for 10 mins so the bathroom is really steamy before giving DS a bath at bedtime.

cory · 21/10/2008 21:08

Afraid so. Runs in families too. I and 2 brothers had it, my nephew had it but not my niece, dd had it but not ds (he has asthma though).

piratecat · 22/10/2008 13:37

yes, heatnessex if oyu comeback to this thread could you tell us what homeopathic remedy you found useful?

my dd had an inhaler regularly from ages 1-3.5/ TBh i often didn't think it made a difference.

I understand how scary it is. dd had a cold for two days this week, (from the plane journeymethinks)and woke on monday morning with a croupy sounding cough, which went by the next day.

it's hard to tell. Yet luckily she has grown out of the night one like the gp said.

scrambledhead · 22/10/2008 14:10

My DS1 has ended up in hospital with croup aged 1, 3 and 4. I don't know why he didn't get it when he was 2. At our local hospital the oldest child they've ever had admitted with croup was 7 ...

Now he's 5 I have sleepless nights every time he has the slightest cough. I HATE CROUP.

We've tried steamy bathrooms, humidifiers etc but he just always needs steroids. Then 2 weeks after the steroids he always gets ill again as his immunity is so low

hertsnessex · 22/10/2008 20:51

the homeopathic remedies were prescribed by a homeopath - always best to check first, but she prescribed my son:

200c aconite -(for fear, i dont always give him this one if it isnt an attack and just a croupy cough)

200c x 2 Hepar Sulph - for croup - and lots of other things!

200c Spongia Tosta - for respiratory organs i.e. croup.

My son regularly needed steroids and sometimes antibiotics and after one attack then 1wk later had pneumonia as his immune system was so shot. since the homeopathic remedies he needs none of it.

(I also swear by 'nat mur' as a natural pick me up - that or a glass of wine!)

HTH

piratecat · 23/10/2008 07:35

cheers for that

PsychoAxeMurdererMum · 23/10/2008 09:22

three of mine are/were croup sufferers.....DD1, DD3 and DS2 (as was their dad before them, so seems to be a familial link IME).

DD1 was the worst, she ended up in hopsital with it probably each time she got it.....the last time at 7, but she still suffered with it up until she was 9......she now gets larygitis (sp?) which my doc says is really the adult version of croup.

DD3 only needed hosptial treatment twice, DS2 not at all, altho when he gets it he instantly needs prednisilone steriods....I always have some in ready for it. It is of course now 'croup season' again, and he is off now with it . I have homeopathic stuff to try this time, which I was told if you give on the day it starts it should help lessen the severity and length......will let you know on that!

AbbeyA · 23/10/2008 09:38

I am afraid mine kept getting it. The doctor said that they would grow out of it by 5yrs and they did.

KerryMumchingOnEyeballs · 23/10/2008 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

zebedee1 · 23/10/2008 18:45

Well DS has just come home from nursery with a cough and croaky voice so now I'll worry that It'll turn into croup....!

OP posts:

Milliways · 23/10/2008 20:37

My DD had this once as a baby (VERY scary), but never since

Maybe we are just very lucky?

CaptainUnderpants · 23/10/2008 20:57

DS1 had croup at 8 months , blue light in ambulance . team waiting for us outside on our arrival - bloody scary , went down hill rapidly , but after steriods etc was out in 24hrs.

Had an inhaler for a while as he had a couple of chest infection as baby/ toddler . Now a strapping 8 yr old who suffers with bad hayfever during the season.

I did howver buy a humdifier/ vapouriser for his room after that attack. Only has had croup this once.

LynetteScavo · 23/10/2008 21:05

zebedee1, some people are just prone to croup.

DS1 has always been croupy, but luckily never been bad enough to go to hostpital.

I was really bad as a child - I didn't grow out of it 'till I was 21! I have never seen fear on my parents faces, as when I was having an atack one night - I really didn't feel that bad. -so I do wonder if it's worse for parents than the child.

They do say if the humidifier isn't working to take your child outside into the cold night (obvioulsy wrapped up warm), altough DS has never been bad enough for us to try this.

twinsnikki · 03/11/2008 20:16

Hiya,

My twins suffer from croup and have been rushed off in an ambo before now, as they have been unable to breath at all!! Very scarey.

Unfortunately it is caused as the windpipe in the larynx is soft and therefore when the get an infection it always ends up as Croup.

Doctors at hospital said they have to grow out of it, which was suppose to be around the age of 6!!

You can help yourself, steaming rooms don't really work, the thing I find it to take them out on a cold night and walk around. The cold air shrinks the swelling improving their breathing.

Also invest in a good humidifier - I got mine from Healthy House and it has been a god send. I have a program plug so it monitors how dry the room is and switches itself on and off accordingly. Helps during the worst coughing period - between 12 - 2am, which is common for Croup suffers.

My heart goes out to you, I understand exactly how you feel!

Nic

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