Croup - Columbia, SC

A., my son also was diagnoed with the croup at about 2 yrs old also. Best thing is to take outside in cool air. I bundled up and wrapped him up to. It helped him a lot to breath that cool air. Even to this day, I take them outside in cool air if he get that croupy sound. Good luck.

I know this will sound weird but I've heard of one thing to try for a croupy cough. Try Vick's Vapor Rub generously on the bottom of the feet and cover with socks. I have never tried this but have seen other people advise that it works. It's worth a shot. Hope it helps.

Hi A.,
I hope your son is feeling better. If you are still dealing with a croupy cough, though, try just running hot water in your shower. Close the bathroom doors and let the room fill up with steam. Then sit in there with him for 10-15 minutes. It always seems to help my sons. I have 5 boys 2,9,11,13,and 16.
My husband is overseas also and it can be rough. Hang in there. This too shall pass. :-)

Hello A.,
This is a Viral kind of cough, I reacently had my son at the hospital too for an injury, in the emergency room were many sick kids two of them had that kough, few days latter my baby boy develop the same cough, I took him to the pediatrician and he told me it is croupy cough, in a few days the cough turned worse and all I did is to let the virus pass, no coughing medecine, just put him in steem shower to loose the phlem and Tylenol if fever develops, lots of clear fluids such as pedialight and cut the milk of for few days, milk makes the congestion on the chest wors. It also heps to take him out side at night if it is very cool, cold fresh air seems to help, make sure you dress him up warm, chest cover, just needs to breath the fresh air not to catch a pnemonia, or else put his little head inside the freezer, just his ead and let him breath for just alittle while, (less than a minute) just for a few seconds, I thought this was to strange when doctor recommended me to do this, the hot steam in shower did not work for him because his fever was very high, so refrigerator was my next option cause the air ouside was to warm...
If fever goes higher than 102 F, take him to the pediatrician. It is a virus and it has to run its course, just make him comfortable as possible, like sleep sitting instead of laying flat, sitting helps breathing easier.
I'm mother of 3 kids (16, 6 and 3 years old).
Hope this helps you.

C. B.

Hi A. I am a 42y.o. mother of two boys 1 and 3. the underlining cause of croup is viral and symptoms should get better in 3-5 days after onset although as a mom it can seem like forever.some things that help are a cool-mist humidifier,steaming up the bathroom with the shower and staying in with the child for about 10 minutes and sometimes taking them out in the cool air help with coughing spells, of course if he is having trouble breathing then take him back to the doctor.hope this helps

My kids (girl 6, boy 3) both always responded well to a steamy bathroom and then bundling them up and going outside -just be sure to bundle well - the drastic change in temperature made their cough less difficult. Hope this helps - good luck!

A little about me: I am a 33 yr old working mother of 2 - with the love of my life as my husband for 11 years.

Hi A., My son had croup at 3 months. I had to get a nebulizer to help with his breathing and clear it up. My only suggestion outside of the other is to not use too much Lysol or spray cleaners of any kind around the sick little one. The fumes and chemicals actually aggravate the sinus and lungs and air passages even worse. I hope this helps.

My son had croup a lot at that age too. He's seven now and still gets it in the winter. I don't remember him throwing up with that though. There's a lot of chest congestion with a croup cough and the cough sounds very phlemy. If he's still throwing up a lot, it could be the phlem that's making him queasy if he is swallowing it. I always tried turning the shower on and letting him breathe in the steam or you could leave a humidifier on at night while he's sleeping. I feel for you right now too. My husband is deployed overseas now and I have two boys, 7 and 12. I know when your baby is sick it's rough with no help. Hang in there!

Hi A.!

Crup is a virus that stays in the upper respiratory system. So it will pass in a couple of days. However, if he is coughing to the point you can't control it he may need a 3 to 4 day steroid treatment. But you can start by getting with him into the bathroom and run the shower hot and the steem will really help to open up his airways.Do this for about 20 min(this has always worked with my kids). Second is also go out with him into the cold air like the other mom suggested, bundle him up and let him breath into the cold air. This should help control the coughing, which sounds so terrible, I know...but it should pass soon.

I hope this helps!

A.

Hello A., My 12 month old was in the hospital last month for the croup. Before we went to the hospital the nurse from the hospital told us to hold her in the bathroom with steam and also try standing in front of the freezer with the cold air for your child to breath. When we took our daughter outside she seemed much better and the dr. said that was because of the cool air. It only lasts with a bad cough for about three days. Good luck! C.

Both of my kids have something like this. 4yr old boy and 2 year old girl. They had it so bad that puss came out of their eyes. They were so congested. Sounds bad, I know. If you see something accumulating in his eyes take him to the doctor. He probably has an ear infection caused by the virus (croup)and you will end up with Amoxil for 14 days. I think I had this a few weeks back and the only thing that helped my breathing was the vaporizor and robtussin. I looked this week and found mucus remover for children(check age). Oh, I forgot, the nasal drops are GREAT! I hope this helps. Last week was a tough week for us with barfing. That croup is like GLUE in your throat and lungs. It is hard to get out.

Hi A.-
My children are 9 1/2 and 8 and this used to happen to my son when he was young. The Doctor prescribed a nebulizer (inhaler) machine. Check with your insurance and see if they will pay for one, they are great to have on hand. We would do the breathing treatments and that always took care of it. I would have to "reward" him for keeping the breathing mask on and taking big deep breaths. I also let him watch his favorite cartoon or movie to distract him. The first time he woke up with that "barking" cough, it scared me and I brought him to the hospital in the middle of the night. The Dr told me if that happens again, put him in the bathroom and turn on the hot water. The hot steam will help open up his lungs. (you don't have to put him in the shower, the water would be too hot)
I hope this helps...
M.

Hi - My son had croup over Labor day weekend. The Dr. at the urgent care facility percribed a steroid. Other than that keep his room or where he is sleeping cool or if he starts coughing a night (which is when it is usally worse) step outside into the cool air. It will relieve the restriction to his air ways or just open the refrierator/freezer and stand in front of if holding him. Also a cool mist humidifier helps.

My son had croupy cough as well. When he would start coughing really bad it would help to sit in the bathroom with him and turn the shower on hot. the steam helps break up the mucus so his cough is more productive and he would stop coughing as much and stop gagging on the mucus. Other than that you just have to wait it out. Hope this helps!

A.,

There is an email circulating that says if you put vicks on your babies feet and cover them up with socks that it helps for a bad cough. You can google it and you'll see what i'm talking about. My son had a terrible cough a couple of weeks ago, we didn't want to give him any medicine because of all the recalls. So...we tried it and I couldn't believe how well it worked. You can still use Vicks like you would normally but try it on his feet, you might be surprised! Good luck!

Thanks,
S.

Hi A.-
Sorry your little man isn't feeling well. Croup is pretty common, especially during the fall and winter months. My son battled with it a few times when he was an infant/toddler. There are a couple of "home remedies" you may want to try. First, steam up your bathroom with a hot shower and sit in there with him for 15-20 minutes. The steam will help open up the passage ways so he can breath easier. Another option is to bring him outside when its cold. Sounds weird, but if he's "barking" at night, bundle him up and walk outside with him for a little bit. The cold air does wonders. And lastly, try a humidifier in his room. If the problem persists and you notice him gasping, get him to the ER or his pediatrician as soon as possible. In some cases the child needs a low dose steriod to decrease the inflamation in the larynx/pharynx. Hope this helps.