Croup - question about contagion, thanks

[Bucketsofdynomite]

DS(23m) started breathing noisily today and the out-of-hours doctor this evening diagnosed viral croup. He's absolutely fine in himself so far although has a slight temperature and pink ear (apparently - who knew!).
Can anyone tell me when viruses are contagious? Should I keep my DD(3) off pre-school immediately if she starts barking, even if she's fine in herself or just as she starts to feel poorly? Apologies if this is a dumb question but we're hardly ever ill any of us, I feel out of my depth!

My two ds's have both had a bout of croup this last week which has resulted in penicillin as we've got Strep throat all of us. There's a horrendous virus doing the rounds at the moment here in the US - pinkeye, cough, sneezing, throat infection extra. Normally I keep mine at home for 24 hours from the attack to make sure that they drink enough and nothing worse is going to materialise. I was glad in this case that I did. Can I recommend a mix of melted honey, orange juice all diluted with water as a drink. It eases the tickly throat and makes sure they get enough fluid in. Magic Honey Juice we call it.

Exactly the same here tonight Buckets.

Am now after 3 croupers an expert on the subject. (But only as a Mum mind)

Its the ssame bug that causes laryngitis type symptoms in adults and older kids witha milder cough.
It is contagious as a virus however, not everyone gets the seal-bark type cough.
I would keep her off tomorrow just to make sure it doesnt get sudennly worse in the next 24 hours.

I have to be honest croup scares me and mine all end up being admitted by ambulance.

Should you notice her struggling to breathe, sit on the bathroom floor and run the shower hot hot hot at full pelt til the room becomes a jungle mist.
If at any point she is struggling to breathe and barks with the intake of breath too call ambulance.
They will put her on a nebuliser which will help her to breathe more easily.

Sorry lovie if I have frightened you but been there myself at least 8 times.
Ds1 10 mths is currently on croup watch tonight.

They dont prescribe anything for croup as its a virus.

It clears up really quickly though.

The only thing they may give if the child is not nebulised is prednisolone (sp)- one or two small tablets - it's a cortisone steroid and eases the inflammation of the airways. It's scary when they bark. But once you've got through one bad attack you get used to reacting. In my case - shower on bathroom door shut. Calpol given and magic honey juice made and humidifier on.

Thanks, I guess it's just one of those sit-it-out things. DD showing no signs yet so will probably take her to pre-school and warn them to call me if she starts puffing.
DS can get some cold fresh air on the way (apparently this helps contract the swelling.) He still seems happy as Larry although he woke himself up barking in the night. I'll stick with the Nurofen and have got a pot of water on his radiator and I'll make an extra steamy bath tonight.