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General health

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Flip

Original poster

1 year old with Croup, he sounds so ill, what else can I do?

9 replies

deegward · 06/04/2004 21:25

Story so far.....My ds2 has just turned 1, and last October went down with croup, after two weeks of croup, we were back at the doctors and it had progressed to brocylitus (sorry if spelt wrong). Ds had to go on the nebuliser at the surgery and got an inhaler to use at home. It took about a month for him to get better.

TOday he woke up wheesy, I came him his inhaler but he got worse all day, to the extent after his nap he was really struggling for breath, whooping away, and cringing when he coughed as it hurt.

Took him to the doctor (one I don't like but he was the duty one) he checked his chest, said it was clear, and said he must have croup. I said I thought his ears and throat hurt, and Dr said well that would be a virsus too, so could do nothing, and didn't even try to look at them. His little glands are up at the back of his head (I was always told that meant they had an infection)

Sat ds2 in bath for ages for the steam, have an vaporiser going full blast in his room, as well as a damp towel on the raidator, andhe still sounds so bad. Tell me it sounds worse than it is, any tips gratefully received.

Ps sorry for long post.

OP posts:

150percent · 06/04/2004 21:31

DS2 had croup, and steam etc didn't do much. In the end I took him to A&E (advice of NHS Direct who are always a bit OTT). In the end he was given some steroid stuff to drink and kept in overnight (standard practice when giving steroid stuff to under-1s apparently...). It certainly seemed to do the trick for us.

BTW it is only the 2nd time I've ever been to A&E with either of mine (first time was a nasty fall), so I don't just hang out there for the sake of it. The problem I found with croup is that it sounds so nasty that it is hard to judge the severity really.

Original poster

deegward · 06/04/2004 21:35

I think that's how I feel, he is asleep just now, but with noises coming from his room. Interesting to know that NHS Direct said to take to A&E will certainly do that if he gets any worse through night. Thanks

OP posts:

prettycandles · 06/04/2004 22:45

No personal experience as a mum, but I have been told that cold night air can help ease the cough - just wrapping the child in a blanket and standing outside for 10m or so.

sinclair · 07/04/2004 10:24

Bad luck DW, it's a rotten thing. DS has suffered from around 18m, and is having nightly attacks at present, 4.6. It is supposed to go by 4/5...Anyway, we use a mixture of steaming the bedroom (kettle with lid off works best), drinking cold water, sitting up - even to sleep (on you) if they will, and soothing words. Latter seems to be the most important in calming them down. Having said that DS was up till 4 with it, including twice coughing so hard she made herself sick, so short answer is there is no short answer. Good luck and I hope it eases.

Flip · 07/04/2004 10:31

My ds1 had bad croup aged five. It's terrifying to see and I rushed him to the emergency doctor in the middle of the night. The cold night air settled him right down so from then on I took him in the conservatory at night if he was ill or like prettycandles said you could try wrapping him in a blanket and taking him outside.

FairyMum · 07/04/2004 10:31

We have had/have a lot of croup too. It's not nice. We have spent whole days in steamed bathrooms and also the cold air tricks works well. Make sure your house is quite cold or go outside with him. If you worry and if he has difficulties breathing I would go and see another doctor or to A&E. Follow your instincts as a mum. If he is in distress it isnot right IMO.....Hope he's feeling better soon!!

Original poster

deegward · 07/04/2004 13:35

Thanks for everyone's hints, ds2 is still bad, but I have convinced myself that I'm just paranoid mum! Keeping him cool etc, so hopefully it will get better soon

OP posts:

Loobie · 07/04/2004 19:20

My ds has had croup since he was about 1 he is now 6 and it has just gone.Watch for discolouration of his extremeties and of his lips for indication that he isnt shifting enough oxygen also watch his chest when breathing,if he seems to be using his tummy muscles as well as his chest ones to breath this is also an indicator,take him to a&e if you see any of these.Ds was hospitalised 3 times due to his croup and was given steriods.Keeping him cool with cold air and calpol really helps too.

alexsmum · 08/04/2004 18:56

Both my two are prone to croup and I took my youngest to A&E in the middle of the night when his seemed bad. They gave him steroids and and a nebuliser which did the trick. The doctor said I'd done exactly the right thing and to take him back if it happened again. It made me feel like I wasn't being an over anxious mother. He actually sounds like he's brewing up for a bout right now, so maybe a trip to a&e will be on the agenda tonight.(He was only 3 months first time)

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