Croup

Hi J.,

I had croup often as a child. My son has had it twice in the past couple of years. The best thing you can do is continue with what you are doing and also use a cool mist humidifier in his room. The cool and moist air will help! It shouldn't be much longer and he should be feeling better. If not, go back to the doctor and they can give him a steroid shot. Good luck! -M.

Hi J.,

My 10 month old daughter just had the croup herself and the doctors office said to run a steamy shower with her in there for about 30 minutes and to run a humidifier. This took several times but it worked to help her breath easier. I also went to the Pharmacist and he gave me Robitusin DM for infants or the Pediatric. He said to give half the dose indicated, she started getting better the day after I gave her the medicine. I hope this helps. God bless. Mickey

Um, I cannot believe they gave him cough syrup because croup is a viral infection that makes the throat and voice box swell. It shouldn't be in his chest at all. My 10 mos has had this for a little over a week now. We have had a breathing treatment, oral steroids and a steroid shot. My doc told me it was unusual for an older child like my 2 year old to get croup because in older children, it usually presents as a cold. The steamy shower worked to ease it up for my son, and cold mist humidifiers. Other that that you will have to ride it out. If your kid will not drink or eat, might I suggest you make some popsicles with pediolyte and milkshakes with pediosure. That way he will get the nutrition he needs without becoming dehydrated. He definitely needs fluids, more so than food. I'd jump on that. Actually, I think pediolyte MAKES posicles. I'd also get him into his regular ped or whoever is filling in for him. ER docs are good in an emergency, but they are quick to label children with common illnesses and just aren't as versed as our peds are. Also as far as the fever....unless it is above 101 or he is just really uncomfortable, I wouldn't treat it unless you had to because a fever keeps the viral infection from living as long and mutating. Fevers are actually a good thing when they are low grade and not making baby unhappy. They really are the bodies natural defense against infection and we get them fora reason. I know a lot of moms are gonna freak on that, but it is true.

One thing that you can do that I didn't see is to keep a vaporizer running near him or sit in the bathroom with the door shut and the shower on hot every couple of hours. I'm really surprised that the hospital did not give him IV fluids, since he is only having 2 wet diapers a day and not drinking much. It is important that you call your pediatrician today and relay this information to him. It sounds like your son in dehydrated, and that needs to be addressed. I don't know if the fever should be there, but you should also mention that to your doctor including how high it gets, how much the tylenol or motrin helps, and how long the fever has been going on. I hope your son gets well in a hurry!

Get your baby to the doctor immediately! An er doc is not going to be as beneficial as his doctor will be. If your doctors office does not keep extended hours get another office. My doctor is opened 365 days a year and when they are closed at night I can call the office and they will connect me to nurse one. If the child is only having two wet diapers a day he is dehydrated and that is VERY serious. Alternate sitting in the bathroom with a hot steamy shower going and standing in front of an open freezer. The alternation of steam and cold air will open up the baby's air passages. I did this with my baby and it helps (my doctors advise). Also this is typically not the time of year for the croup so I would definately get another opinion. Also, fluids, fluids, fluids.

Hi J.,
My son has had croup a couple of different times. You need to make sure when he is sleeping to put a humidifier in the room. This will keep moisture in the air and help him to be able to breath better. The fever should go away after a couple of days. He could possibly have two viruses attacking him at the same time. That may be why the fever has lasted so long. Good luck and I know how you feel, it breaks your heart to see them so sick.

Please call your own doctor now. He needs to know EVERYTHING you have done, medicine doses, pedialyte intake, wet diapers a day, what your child is eating, etc. He may want you to bring your child in to see him so that the croup does not turn into something more serious. Or he may just give you answers over the phone. My doctor's nurse takes all my questions and gets back with me with the answers in a timely fashion every time I call.

Make sure you have all of your questions written out in detail before calling. Leave plenty of space on that paper for you to write the answers.

Ask about hot water vaporizers (about $12 each at Walgreens)which you can add 'menthol liquids into the water' versus cold water vaporizers (much more expensive, many varieties available-get one with inexpensive filters!!)

Standing in a closed bathroom with the hot water running followed immediately by going outside into the cold night air was recommended by 2 different doctors for both of my boys (we moved to a different states and still was told this solution for night time hacking).

Ask about using plug-in menthol dispensers (about the size of the palm of your hand).

Elevate the head end of the bed (using rolled towels under the sheet to 'build up' a ramp to put his pillow on. My little guy was still in an infant car seat and slept in it to help keep him upright and decrease his hacking.

They might give a steriod shot to help decrease the constriction of the airway.

How much tylenol vs. motrin to give (make sure you have a current weight for dosage).

Ask about what to feed him and drinks to give. Pedialyte was recommended over Gatorade for kiddos by my doctors.

Good luck and make sure YOU rest when you can too. Croup wore me out every time my 2 boys had it. Call you own doctor when you have questions.

One way to humidify the air is with a cool-mist humidifier. Having your child breathe in the moist air through the mouth will sometimes break a croup attack. Or try running a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Try cuddling and reading a bedtime story while doing this to help calm your child. My Grandmother used a heavy blanket and tented me when I had croup.

If your child has croup, consider sleeping overnight in the same room to provide close observation. If you are not able to break your child's fast breathing and croupy cough, call your child's doctor or seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Gatorade is a little sweet and can cause additional diarreah. In the baby formula aisle there's a bottle of clear liquid that's a little pricey, but worth it's weight in gold. Croup is usually over in 2-3 days. BTW - you're doing fine - you're exhausted and so is the little one. Crawl in bed with him and the vaporizor - Gives you a great facial. Everything else is going to be ok.

My daughter had croup at 1 1/2 years old. She was given an oral steroid to keep her throat open and clear and I was told if she got worse that they would need to give her a steroid shot (this did not happen). From what I have heard, cough syrup does not work for croup. My doctor told me to take her in the bathroom with the shower running anytime she had a coughing fit or to walk outside (because it was the middle of summer and the humidity was so high) These were the only things that really did work during this time. She was sick for about a week.

J.,
I am not sure what croup is, but as a mother, I know that I feel so helpless when my baby is sick. The only words I can offer to you are "this too shall pass". Find your comfort and strength in the Lord. Remember the footsteps- He will carry you through the rough times, so rely on Him as your rock.
Here is a website I found via google. I hope this helps
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/c...
Your baby will be okay, find solice in that.

Hi J., my son had croup when he was about 22 months old. I used a humidifer in the room the entire time. His doctor told me cough syrups don't really work with croup. She did prescribe a steroid medicine for him in case he had a really bad cough. Fortunately, I didn't have to use it. I gave him Tylenol for the fever, and after 3 days, he was doing a lot better. It does sound like your son is a little dehydrated. I suggest you give him Pedyalite, and even ice cubes if he doesn't really want to drink. Any liquid will be good.
I know how you feel. Croup is kind of scary, and it's not fun seeing your son very sick. You're doing everything you can, and he will get better. Croup usually lasts between 3 and 5 days. Hopefully you got some more information from the pediatrician.

You probab;y could have asked your doctor all these questions and found some kind of comfort, but I know with the rush of things its hard to always remember question when you get there.You seem to be doing everything you can right now,I just think you could give the more fluids,even if if he doesnt want them.And something like tomoato soup and a grilled chesse sandwitch.I know its hard to make them drink but if you just offer it a whole lot and atleast get him to sp a little often or eat a small half of a sandwitch or soup it will def help him feel better fast. Me and my husband had caught a bad case of the stomace virus when I was pregnant with my second.We were so sick that we literally layed on the living room floor together.I had to call my mother in law to come get my then 3 yr old and asked if she could bring some gatorade and soup over and after forcing myself to eat a little bit of soup and ALOT of gatorade I felt a 100 times better but my husband did not.B/c he didnt wanna eat anything.I got better a day and a half later...he stayed stick 2 more days after.Just give it to him in sips and little bits alot and in no time he'll feel better.

Hello, my daughter also had the croup cough. She was wheezing and had a horrible cough, it got bad where I had to take her to the doctor. They checked her and gave a shot and about 8 hours later she was fine. I just had to do a followup the next day, there isn't anythiong you can do except for take him to the doctor.