Croup Question

[kirsty_lee]

Hey lovely ladies,

About 2-3 weeks ago Ava-Jayde had a cold. Typical normal kids cold (yay for kindy eh ) anyway, all the symptoms seemed to go, except the cough. Its just been a bit of a phlegmy cough. So last night when I was in bed I woke up to this cough and the minute I woke up I knew it was croup, think every mother has heard that distinctive cough at some point. Ava-Jayde's never had it but I know my brother did and close friends children have had it. So obviously she was crying and worked up through her coughing, I told dp just to be ready to go to hospital. It lasted maybe 1/2 hour if that. Then I turned everything off and put her in our bed with us. She slept. Maybe one or two coughs in the middle of the night. She doesn't have a fever either. This morning, she's full of beans (which I know isn't all that uncommon) and she has coughed a little bit this morning but it's not a bark it's a normal cough I've been reading up on it this morning and apparently most cases can be dealt with at home and are usually mild etc. Just wondering, should I wait until tonight to see if she has another attack and take her up to the hospital? or should I take her to the doctor today? Cause even if she coughs for the doctor its not a croupy cough (which confuses me) Like I said i've never dealt with this personally so just thought i'd see what mothers of croup sufferers suggest? TIA

[~Trish~]

My DS1 has had croup twice and I just took him to the GP who prescribed Pred Mix (I think it's called?) which stopped it really quickly. Both times he had a very obvious croup cough when I took him to the GP though. If you are really worried you could get Ava checked out JIC. Our GP recommended using a vapouriser in his room too.

Even try calling the health hotline in your state? Or even the MCHN hotline?

I hope she feels better soon.

[Trillian]

Croup is just a virus so there is no treatment for it, but you can be prescribed Predmix or Redipred for it, which is just a steroid that opens their airways. It could just have been a once off thing and tonight she will be fine, but sometimes they can be fine through the day and the cold air at night can bring it on again. It's up to you as to whether you think she needs the steroid or not but if she is happy enough and not distressed by it then she may be fine without it.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Yeah there isnt a hell of alot they can do for croup. It will be worse at night as Trillian said, the night air can bring it on. Trust your mummy instincts, your the one that knows her best. If u think she needs a check up, no harm in getting her one. Hearing them cough like that just breaks your heart when there is nothing u can do.


PS. Update your sig missy!!

[kirsty_lee]

Thanks for the replies, took her to the doctor today. Checked her over and yep definately croup. She was quite distressed last night and was having trouble breathing for a bit so he's put her on a steriod for three days, once a day. She certainly does not like the taste lol but it has eased my mind tonight, hopefully she's better tonight. She's still got a little bit of a cough today but he said she should right after the three days. So hopefully tonight she'll be ok.

[Trillian]

It does pass very quickly - I'd be surprised if after having had the steroid now that she will have the stridor tomorrow, it is so effective at treating it. One tip though, it is possible that she will get it again - maybe not this year but next year you should be prepared for it. I could always pick when DS1 was likely to get it because often it could come after he'd had a minor sniffle/cold and the girls would just have it come on out of the blue - usually at 2am with no warning so I always make sure that I have some Redipred in the fridge so if they got it I could treat them immediately and not have to take them to the Dr. Now I just get a script to have on hand each year and our GP tells me how much to give each of them depending on their weight and he's happy for me to treat them at home.