CROUP.Please help. Hitting, kicking, screaming DD.

[MamaMammalon]

DD, 23 months, diagnosed with croup Sat. Has had a complete change in temperament, hitting, screaming, kicking, slapping, shouting at us to Go Away, won't accept any help, comfort, won't read books, wants to be alone. I am IMMENSELY DESPERATE as I feel I am failing beyond imagination. This cannot be normal for illness, this has never happened before. Is there something psychological going on here? Why doesn't she need us? So confused. Any advice please help.

Am sure this is typical of homeopathic constitution type (if you believe all of that). Will try and look it up if you are interested. DD has had croup twice, very sudden onset, Hepar Sulph cleared it up within 12-18 hours each time. But no aggression.

If you think Homeopathy is rubbish, then let me know and I won't bother.

About the same age as your dd my dd started getting very funny about taking any help or medicine, when she had been brilliant about it all before. I put it down to development and trying to be more indpendent (althought they really do not pick the best times to do it!).

In terms of medicine (paracetomol and ibuprofen) we resorted to putting it in her milk... certainly not medical advice but it worked for us (although the paracetomol and milk mix could make her sick a bit, but we were desperate sometimes). She is now 3 1/2 and is fine about medicines and much more willing to take comfort.

I don't know anything about croup, so can't help you there, sorry. Hope someone can offer some advice there.

And you are not failing. Kids are in charge of the goal posts and like to move them regularly.

Hello, I am very interested in homeopathy so would love your help.

She is on antibiotics but have just read online that these are irrelevant for this as it is viral? Typical!

She has been having antihistamines, but have also just read that this is pointless and can make the throat drier! Typical!

I am in Cyprus (North) and it seems the hospital don't have a clue. Have phoned my Doc on South Cyprus who said the North doc had given her the wrong antihistamine, too old for her, and this is what is making her crazy but online it says no antihistamines!

She is having Calpol, Vits and Echinacea. But she won't eat or drink anything. She ate some eggs last night (first meal of the day) and a handful of chips the night before (we were desperate!). She is refusing water, plain milk, juice/water mix so we have resorted to sweetened weak tea and chocolate milk but even then she is only having a bit. She eats and drinks really well normally.

She won't let me comfort her so is spending a lot of time writhing around kicking and screaming and lashing out and really wearing out her throat. I have tried to calm her down in a million ways.

We are taking her to a different Doctor later on to get a second opinion.

I just don't understand why she would 'turn' on me in her time of greatest need, as in, why am I not a comfort for her, why is she intent on pushing me away? We are really close.

I read somewhere once that when babies are sick, hurt, ill they can blame their carer. They hold them responsible for how they are feeling. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Or is this all coinciding with toddlerhood in general?

Am I doing something terribly wrong that I am missing and that she feels and is only to communicate with me by hitting, screaming etc?

I always feel confident as a Mother and am utterly baffled by this.

Sorry to go on, just need to offload. Thanks for your replies xxxx

I have got a load of childrens homeopathy books at home, and I'm at work now. Do you have much access to homeopathic remedies in N Cyprus?

I don't think that anti-bs work for croup (but I'm not a medical, so don't quote me!). I should think she is "turning" on you, as you are the person she is closest to, and therefore the safest person to "turn" on. if that makes sense. I'm not sure its about blame.....

re: the homeopathic remedies,

Aconite is a good remedy for sudden onset of anything, including croup I think, but you have to give it within 24-36 hours of the symptoms starting.

Hepar Sulph is great for croup. Worked for our dd twice, almost instantly.

Chamomilla is good for comforting. Typically a Chamomilla child strikes out at his/her parents when ill, and can fly into a complete rage. They don't take to comfort very easily. They are particularly troublesome in the evening and are quite hot. Flush to one side of the face typically.

(I'm getting this from online information btw!)

So might be worth trying some of that.

Maybe its worth making sure that she hasn't got an ear infection? I know that can go easily undiagnosed and the pain can drive little ones completely wild.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

FWIW, I would be tempted to stop the antihistamines too. Can make children restless and hyper. Not sure it is an established remedy for croup anyway.

here is a link for homeopathic treatments for the croup itself, but it doesn't say much about the accompanying upset etc.....

What brilliant info. Thanks so much. I really hope laying off the antihis helps. Will get the hepar sulph and chamomilla from chemist today- do they come as a syrup or dissovable or tea etc? She hasn't been really ill like this before so maybe this is why we've never experienced this behaviour? Plus she is now older. I am struggling to stay focused and objective though. She said she wanted eggs again at lunch today and when I put them down on her tray she went crazy and her hysteria started all over again. She shouted at me to not take a sip of my drink(???), she didn't want my husband to walk into the kitchen(???), she yelled at him and these are just two examples from the past four days. She's a different child, I am worried there is something more going on. Am really glad we're going to the Docs again. It just doesn't seem right. Am going to get her to check her ears too. Thanks for all your excellent support. It has been really helpful. Thanks for listening to me offload. xxx

www.herbalremediesinfo.com/homeopathy_for_kids.html
Just found this one too. x

hom. remedies generally in the form of small tablets or pilules that should be dissolved under the tongue.

Poor you, she is sounding v contrary. Very difficult for you if she won't accept comfort. When dd first got croup, it was in the evening, she was about your dds age, a bit older maybe, and she was quite inconsolable for a while. I think I had to lie with her in my bed, shushing her etc to help her sleep. I remember I got v nervous, as she got quite hysterical in a way that I hadn't come across before. I called my mother to come over (she is a medical) and by the time she got there, dd had fallen asleep.

You dd sounds as though she is in that stage where NOTHING will please her. Will try to look this up in my books this evening and will post if I can find anything useful. I think one has to be quite careful in using homeopathy for emotional issues in children if not trained. But some things are almost standard practice once you do a bit of reading (pulsatilla for weepiness and clinginess for example).

Maybe get some rescue remedy when you go to the chemists? Helps massively when dd has a meltdown.....

Good luck...

Hi Mamamammalon.... how are you today? I did a bit of reading in my books last night, and if she is still angry and contrary, you might want to try chamomilla. Also found in homeopathic teething granules.

Hello! Thanks for returning to this thread! We took her to a private Doc yesterday evening who confirmed that the Sudafed was making her crazy.

The Local Hospital had not only prescribed it when there are other 'baby friendly' antihistamines, but had also prescribed a crazy dose apparently (2 x 5ml).

The Doc said she had had a few experiences of Sudafed causing almost psychotic episodes in children. Feeling very ill at ease with medical care and advice. I will never be so quick to trust. I didn't even question the prescription choice or check the bottles or read up online. Have learned a vital lesson here, at poor DD's expense sadly but we didn't know.

She was better yesterday evening and has been lovely today with two slight tantrums just before mealtimes but I actually attribute this more to her having 'learned' this during her four days of illness when she played up, refused food and we conceded. I was firm and explained she had to sit up and after a few minutes of grumping(!) she very happily ate up both meals with extras. She has also drunk two cups of juice and two of milk which is fantastic.

As for the remedies; I couldn't get a single one in the chemists here! I was really shocked as they have so many obscure herbal supplements but none of these. When I said about the Hepar Sulpha the (Turkish) chemist thought I was asking for Herpes. Quite comical.

Anyway, thank-you so much for all your wonderful advice and support! I used to be very 'into' herbal remedies a few years ago and this experience has definitely convinced me(drug-fuelled child being enough evidence!) that over the counter drugs may not be the best option! xxx

Just to reassure you that it is not abnormal in a poorly toddler anyway. My 23 month old had bronchiolitis recently so similar to croup. She is normally a happy, pleasant, sociable, smily, cuddly little girl. Never tantrums. She started behaving exactly as you describe. Cross, screaming, not eating, kicking, lashing out etc. As soon as the virus was out of her system she was absolutely fine and back to her normal self. I think she was in pain, exhausted and didn't have the tools to rationalise it.

Hi MamaMammalon.... good to read your update, though shocked that she was given 2x5ml sudafed... that is a lot! Glad you seem to have found a doc that you can trust though....

Re: homeopathy, if you are interested in getting to grips w it a bit, maybe order a few books from Amazon, and you can also order some basic standard remedies from Ainsworths here in UK. Am sure they will send to you.

Ainsworths website here

So glad that things have settled down a bit!