Croup

[CompetentlyIncompetent]

20 month old ds has croup. Went to the hospital a couple of days ago and they gave him dexamethasone to open up his airways as he struggled with his breathing.

He's still not better. He's taking nurofen and calpol round the clock but it's barely enough to control his temperature. In the hospital they said not to worry no matter how high his temperature goes but they kept us for observation as the temperature apparently was increasing his heart rate to concerning levels. So what if that happens again? How would we know if we just ignore his temperature. So we are trying to keep his temperature down. Also it makes him absolutely miserable.

They said we need to go back to A N E if he develops stridor again. I'm so stressed and tired of lying awake all night and trying to figure out whether his breathing is normal or not (when it's not croup it's viral induced wheezes). I can't believe how difficult this is or am I just dumb?

I think at least I'll go to thr gp tomorrow. I don't trust my own judgment anymore.

Not sure what I'm asking here. Would love to hear other people's stories of croup.

Oh no, poor little thing, it's such a worry. My children used to get croup a lot, and propping them up in bed so that they were almost sitting up and having the window open for the cold air used to help a bit. Do you have one of those heart rate / oxygen monitors at home you can clip on her finger?

Other thing I was told to check if if they are sucking in the sternum or between the ribs when breathing was a sign to go back to and e. Wishing your son better.

My DS had croup several times as a baby/little boy. So worrying I really feel for you.

Agree to go back to the drs if not improving, I remember a marked improvement after getting that drug.

We used to have a humidifier which makes the air wet, really helps with breathing. In the old days women used to run a shower for a similar effect.

Thank you. I've put a pillow under his head but I'll try propping up the mattress a bit more. He usually just slides off it. Yes, I keep the windows open. Thankfully, it's not too cold

We've got an oxygen monitor but it's impossible to use with him. He just won't stay still for long enough. Even in the hospital they struggle to take his stats.

Yes, I keep checking but I find it so difficult to judge what is normal. He's quite chubby as well so even when his wheezing was very bad the change in sucking in was quite subtle.

I just find it so difficult to trust my judgment. I keep second guessing myself. I wish there was a more obvious metric (like the oxygen meter)

I used to quite good at detecting wheezing but now I've thoroughly confused myself and everything and nothing sounds like wheezinv. Same with stridor.

Oh ok. Maybe I should get a humidifier. Does it help with wheezing as well?

My first born suffered with croup between the age of 1 and 4. It's scary and awful to see.
Biggest thing I had to go on was the noise and how fast she was breathing. Look for sucking in between the ribs and the neck can be a good one too.
If temp is not going down with both calpol and nurofen then go back in regardless of anything else.
Google a normal resp rate or ask gp etc and if it exceeds this then also go in.
Normally a dose of steroids would sort hers. Might be possible yours needs multiple doses.
We've had nebulisers and oxygen before so it really does depend on the flare up.

I would take to the gp today for sure, just for some extra reassurance if nothing else.

Mines a really healthy 8 year old now who hasn't had anything respiratory for years but the first few years were horrendous, I hope yours grows out of it too!

Not sure about it helping wheezing? I know I used to drive myself mad trying to work out what the sound was!

You'll get some drs or websites saying they aren't proven make a difference, but from our experience they totally do. We tended to switch it on full for 30 mins before bed, then turn it down later in the night when he was asleep.

I know it will feel a long way off, but my son is now 9 and he grew out of it about 5-6. It will be behind you one day!

We went to the GP yesterday who also diagnosed him with an ear infection and has prescribed antibiotics. He also prescribed him a one off tablet of dexamethasone so we don't need to rush to the hospital if he gets stridor.

We had to give it to him yesterday night as his stridor got quite bad after going to bed. Since then no stridor and not much of a temperature but he's so miserable and uncomfortable. He's just crying all the time. I've never seen him so miserable. We've given him nurofen in case he's got some ache (maybe an ear ache from the ear infection) but he's still miserable.

I wish he could tell us what's wrong or where it's hurting. :-(