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Original poster

Bloody croup- Again!

20 replies

alexsmum · 10/02/2006 19:48

my ds2 who is 2 has croup. This the 4th /5th(?) time he has had it since he was born.Last time just before christmas, he was admitted to hospital for 24 hours with it( and his brother for 48 hours).
It's quite mild so far, although his breathing was bad last night, i'm hoping someone can give me some tips on keeping it at bay?
I know all about steam and ibuprofen.anything else?
i hate to see him in distress and i can't face the idea of another overnight stay in hospital with ds on loads of drugs etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
alexsmum · 10/02/2006 20:08

.

OP posts:
chapsmum · 10/02/2006 20:08

have you got a steam steriliser?

Original poster
alexsmum · 10/02/2006 20:11

only a microwave one

OP posts:
spursmum · 10/02/2006 20:12

Stick a pillow under the matress(or the bed sheet if too solid) to raise their head. Worked with my ds, he used to get it bad(3 trips to A&E) but thankfully he's growing out of it.

Callmemadam · 10/02/2006 20:15

Hi, my 15 year old has had croup ever since he was tiny: if he gets a cold it goes to his larynx, simple as that. At the moment he has not had a voice for three weeks . I have been told that if they are susceptible, they will always have the tendency. Some children also become athsmatic, but it is NOT related, and Ed never has. Now Ed is older, steam inhalations really work, but for a toddler I would always do the following: buy a humidifier if you can (john lewis do them) and keep it on in his room. Failing that, bowls of water above radiators help. Karvol or olbas oil on muslins etc dotted about/tied at end of cot. If he gets an attack, keep him cool, not warm, as a hot chest makes it worse. A really steamy atmosphere, such as a small bathroom with the hot taps running, really helps. You need lots and lots of steam when they are too young to safely have a steam inhalation. To keep it at bay a humidifier really helps, as do those machines which pump out menthol vapours, but if he is like Ed I am afraid he may just have a tendency each time he has a cold. If you want to ask anything else, do! HTH

Original poster
alexsmum · 10/02/2006 20:21

callmemadam- thank you! so nice to hear someone elses child gets this.
both of mine just seem to get it whenever they get a cold as you said.i never hear anyone saying in the playground- 'oh ds has got croup'yet my boys get it so often!
the humidifier is a good idea. i always do the steamy bathroom thing-leave the shower running but i've got to say it doesn't seem to help him much.i give him ibuprofen as it's supposed to help reduce the swelling in the throat.
The only sure fire thing seems to be the dexamethasone that they give in a&e.but obviously not something i want him to have unless absolutely necessary.
it's very frightening isn't it?
our worst bout was last summer when ds1 had it.His oxygen levels were in the 80's when they are not supposed to drop blow 94. scary.

OP posts:
chapsmum · 10/02/2006 20:28

Have we had this conversaion before??
Sorry if I have suggested this, hang your washing up to dry in his room or hang damp towels over the radiator.saves buying a humidifior

Elibean · 10/02/2006 21:14

dd had it last summer (yes I know, summer?!?) and my neice got it a lot...she is petite, and probably has a petite larynx to match: kids with narrow airways tend to suffer more often and for longer, apparently. It IS horrid, and scary, I hated it - and am on tenterhooks when dd gets a cough with a cold.
We used a humidifier, but chapsmum is right - wet towels on a radiator, or lots of washing hung up in a warm room, work well too. dd was only 20 months when she had it, so I slept in her room and soothed her every time she half woke with coughing - I found if she stayed calm, the gasping never got as bad.
Will be thinking of you over the next couple of nights, hope its not as bad this time..xx

Alipiggie · 10/02/2006 21:26

Hot water, honey and orange juice to have very small sips from. It soothes the throat which is the main problem, plenty of honey.
Works every time for my ds1 who has had croup 4/5 times, not badly but enough to scare me.

Callmemadam · 10/02/2006 21:40

We have done the damp towel thing too from time to time, but the problem is that you have to have the heating on, and that is not always possible, i.e with summer colds. Also, Ed is always better if he doesn't get too overheated, so we keep his room fairly cool.

Original poster
alexsmum · 10/02/2006 21:44

i agree about keeping the heating on callme, i don't like having the heating on overnight-find it makes things worse.
he actually seems ok this evening so far-lets hope it's been just a mild dose and last night was the worse. poor little dot-he was drenched in sweat and his chest was pulling right in when was breathing.
fingers crossed for his evening!

OP posts:
mcmum · 10/02/2006 22:08

my ds used to get croup quite often and first night always worst. we used to giv him robinsons lemon barley made with boiling water (cooled but still warm) with honey and he used to drink through a straw (now 8 he still asks for that as it soothes his throat) my son used to get severe croup and needed to go to hospital they used to recommend warm moist air i.e. keep in bathroom with shower running for steam or the opposite wrap him in a blanket and stand at door as breathing cold air also does trick, hope u have better night i hate croup but sometimes it sounds worse than it is

mcmum · 10/02/2006 22:13

my little boy used to get dextomethasone the hospital gave me some to keep at home. does ds have asthma ? my ds does and i always increase his beclomethasone inhaler which also helps. what about ice lolly and disney channel that always helps most important thing is to keep him calm and not to cry and crying makes it worse.

swedishmum · 10/02/2006 22:19

Bowl of water on windowsills above all radiators. I used to put a chair in the bathroom and have shower on full, then make a cup of tea so I was relaxed (!) as well. Then I'd sit in the dark with only a towel round baby. Seemed to make me less panicky - it can seem like ages in the middle of the night when the steam's only been on for a few minutes. They DO grow ot of it.
Certainly not recommended but my mum used to make me drink very salty water - vile and certainly didn't work. The only effect it had was to make me try to hide attacks therefore make it worse! DO NOT DO THIS!!!

Elibean · 10/02/2006 22:28

Urg, SM, salty water?!
Wishing you a peaceful night, Alexmum...hope the worst is past.

matnanplus · 10/02/2006 22:33

My friend has used homeopathic croup remedies and it has lessen the severity of an attack and if started early has nipped it in the bud.

Have you tried a mug that boots do that you fit a top to once it has boiling water ( and oils if wanted) and the top is designed for you to inhale thru via nose and mouth or a facial steamer, both under constant help/supervision considering ds2's age. I have used the mug with a 14m before.

Original poster
alexsmum · 11/02/2006 10:22

thanks for all tips everyone.much better night last night.cough seems to have loosened a bit and he seems much snottier today.he's tucking into his porridge as i write so feeling better!

OP posts:
mcmum · 12/02/2006 18:59

hows the little fella today ?

Original poster
alexsmum · 13/02/2006 13:11

back to normal apart from the snot mcmum!
thank goodness for that!

OP posts:
mcmum · 13/02/2006 13:28

im really pleased for you and ds give him a hug from me.

catch up with you soon but on a more happy thread hopefully take care x

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