Croup q?

How many nights would you home treat croup before heading to a gp?

DD has the flu & nasty croup cough at night. Last night was the second night, & she's no better with the flu today. No coughing at all any other time though, just late at night.

She's still feeding fine & standing in the steamed up bathroom has soothed it both nights so far.

I haven't been worried about her breathing & i have ventolin here if I need it (I think its just a weaker version of the same type of steroid?)

I don't really wanna go get the meds JIC, when I think we are handling it ok, but I'm wondering if I'm doing the wrong thing???

I only used to let it go one night, maybe two, unless I already had the medication in the fridge. I forget what its called. Since moving here, ds hasn't had it once due to the dry climate.

None. Croup is one of those things that can turn nasty without warning. The steriod you need for croup in Prednisolone (sp) or Predimix as it's commonly known as. It's taken straight mixed up with juice or something as it has a horrible taste and not through a ventilator. You would also need to know the measurement to give her as being taken straight, they are very cautious with weight to dose ratio.
If the cough is seal sounding already, that is a pretty good indicator that she needs to see a GP or if you have them over there, a home visiting GP if you get stuck in the night.

Thats the problem... 4 sleeping kids to a hospital 65 kms away in the middle of the night. Do they need to hear the cough?
& if the chemist isn't open? Coz thats 65 kms away too... closed over the weekend.

They usually do, or you need to describe the cough. You can't get predimix without a script. Do you have a home visiting GP service where you are?
I am going to PM you a link to the RCH fact sheet on croup.
Otherwise Nurse On Call 1300 60 60 24. If you have some of the asthma medication, the nurse on call may be able to guide you.

doubt there's a home visiting gp. we only have a gp here once a week. will look into it though.
sucky thing about being on your own...

thanks

You will be fine Clover, if you can't get hold of the GP, if you don't already, have her sleep with you so you can keep an eye the cough.
Hopefully the GP has an answer service that explains your options when he/she is not there.
It's dinner time for my kids, I will check back in later. Hopefully the link is helpful.

How nasty is the stridor (seal wheeze) sounding?? Is she really struggling to get the air in? Sinking chest? Blue lips? If any of those are yes then I wouldnt wait and get her in ASAP. Even call an ambulance if you need too it can turn that quick!

Is her noise bought on by a coughing or is it there all the time?

Croup usually just comes on, most times with no pre-cursor so the fact she has the flu and cough, it is possible that it is a infection somewhere (usually viral:rolleyes:) and that is causing the noise.


Not a Dr by any means just a Mum with 4 kids who have have/had it so I have pretty much seen it all.

All the best it is so awful when they are sick :comfort:

none - because I wouldn't be able to be sure whether it was croup, bronchiolitis or asthma ... I would want to be sure ...

but DS is our first, maybe with 4 kids you know?

anyone have a vapourizer you could borrow? thats always helped my DD and she gets croup all the time, my GP trusts me now so he will prescrible predimix without hearing the stridor but some GPs wont prescrible if they don't hear it themselves.

Hope she is better tonight croup is horrible

DS has had croup a few times, DD1 is asthmatic, we've been through chest infections & most things like that, I know this is croup :) (You only need to hear that cough once IMO)

Last night was worse than the night before, but it was only the one attack, at about midnight. 5 or 10 minutes in the steamy bathroom & she settled down & slept the rest of the night. She didn't seem to be having much trouble breathing, but it sounded painful :(

She does sleep with me mostly. So I know her every move. If I was worried I would definetly not risk waiting & seeing. I've been here more times than I can count, so I feel ok with just keeping an eye on her. It was the few people commenting on FB a bit more panicky than I was feeling that made me wonder.

And even though they don't recommend steam anymore... I'm not sure what to think of that? Thats what we do every time & I've always had a coughing, tossing, turning, sick, unsettled baby, settle right down & sleep the rest of the night after being in steam. It seems to work really really well for us... :dunno:

I always use steam & warm showers to clear the gunk out of them when they have a flu, or are snotty. Seems to stop it settling on their chests to me...

My DS sufferd with croup until he was 8 and we were always told steam even though they now say not too and its always helped so I keep doing it. its funny how things change.

Sounds like you know what your doing hun :hug:

You've got it sorted Clover :) I think the steam thing has been replaced with taking them out in to the night air.

Yeah, i thought that... but night air seems to bring it on? I know it helped with DD's asthma when she was little though.

Anyway, thanks all :)
I feel comfortable with my decision again.

Perhaps it depends on the night air? As in if it's cold and crisp versus warm and muggy?

My son got croup when he was about 6 weeks old. We took him to the GP first thing the next morning (me being a panicky first time mum, lol) and we got predmix. He had 3 doses and although the GP said the 2nd night is often worse he was completely fine after about 24 hours. We got lucky. I hope your DD feels better soon!

How did you go last night Clover? Is your DD any better today?

Yep, no croup last night. Green runny nose now, but thats it. She's still not feeling well, but she's improving :)

glad to hear she is improving :D

Great to hear clover! PO5..very sexy avvy!!