Barking cough - croup

[TammySwansonTwo]

I have 14 month old twins. They've just gotten over a cold (noses stopped running a couple of days ago). All fine today but since they've gone to bed one has started with a barking cough and noisy breathing that sounds awful. I've checked and no signs of having difficulty breathing (went through bronchiolitis and whooping cough exactly a year ago).

Sounds to me like croup but honestly I have no idea what I'm talking about - as long as he's breathing freely (if noisily) can I just call out of hours in the morning or do I need to get him seen now? No temp or anything. Can they have a barking cough that's not croup? It sounds pretty severe.

Just a bit paranoid after a long HDU stay last year which has left me a bit shaken still now.

My eldest has had croup a couple of times. I think it does tend to sound awful but if they are breathing ok, then I don’t think you need to call out of hours now. I took DD to the doctors this last time as she is 9 now and told me she couldn’t breathe so we got some steroids but on previous occasions they didn’t prescribe anything.

From your description it could be. But it could also just be a dry cough. Both the below have helped my DS...

Going out into cold/coolet air. As did going to a steamy room (sit in the bathroom with the shower on).

If it gets worse call ooo or NHS direct.

Hope your DS is better soon

I have way too much experience with croup with my twins.

If they are salivating and can’t suck it back in or take a sip of water, a and e or ambulance.

If they have stridor which is using their tummy muscles to breath, or have a big hollow at the base of their neck on every breath, a and e.

A and e will give them dexomthenase a steroid that fixes it almost instantly.

If it’s not that bad stick them in the car and go for a drive around the upright position with a window open (wrap them up well) does wonders.

Steam isn’t recommended any more.

Try calpol as well - there might be an underlying ear or something else infection going in.

Thanks so much everyone - really helps to ask people who've dealt with it!

Fortunately he doesn't have any recession around his ribs / collarbone etc and he's able to drink okay so just making sure he has lots of fluids for now. Will absolutely get him seen immediately if things change for the worse.

This NHS pagetells you when to seek medical advice. Hope they are ok, croup can be nasty so if you are worried get them seen.

Thanks 123 - I found a different nhs page when i looked it up which said it can usually be treated at home! Luckily he doesn't have any of the emergency symptoms but will call out of hours this morning and see if they want to see him.

Fresh air is a great help for croup. When ds starts I always open his bedroom window straight away