DS just been carted off to hospital...

[Shellseeker]

in an ambulance with DH. Probably croup but his breathing was very laboured and rattly and intermittant. DD1 & 2 asleep upstairs; paramedics said to wait a couple of hours before ringing hospital to see if any news. I know it was the right thing to take him as we live in the middle of nowhere and it's a good 30 minutes to the hospital, but am still feeling a bit glum. Could be getting on with wrapping presents but can't settle.

Yes it was croup, and they gave him some steroids (I think - DH wsa a bit hazy on the details at 1.20 this am when I had to go and pick them up from a&e).
He's sooo much better now but we're all a bit knackered so have enforced a Pjs and duvets on the sofa day!

Does anyone know re the steam thing - have been told yes and no by various people. The cold air thing does seem to work, though.

Hopefully we can get to Christmas without anything else - DH and all 3 DCs had D&V at the same time last week!

the steam is supposed to work or generally just a change in atmosphere - sometimes we think ds sounds borderline croupe cough and can head it off while he still asleep by blasting windows open to change atmosphere - after an episode of croupe though he genreally has a week or so of a horific cough. All good fun. When he has had a sterois intervention though we tend to miss that stage so fingers crossed for you.

No evidence for steam treatment either way. If it makes him happier then go for it.

When dd2 had croup going out to the docs at 10pm did seem to help a bit. I wasn't convinced steam ever did really but it's rather more pleasant than sitting outside in the cold. Glad to hear your ds is ok. You did exactly the right thing and thanks so much for sparing our nerves and ringing NHS direct, getting him in the ambulance and THEN posting. I hate the 'my child's breathing funny, shall I go to A&E threads' - I work in a hospital and they make me very, very nervous! Hope all will be well for Christmas now!