Does this sound like croup?

[Strawbs]

I've just been to the doc as my son has a bark like cough along with a runny nose, vomit with mucus in it and a low grade temp.. His sleep is very disrupted by this cough but of course when I went to the doc he didn't cough or sneeze once!!! His temp is 37.4 and is currently in his cot trying to sleep but keeps waking due to coughing..

Doc basically waved me off because of course he was bouncy and lovely as soon as he saw the doc and said if it gets worse in the night treat him as if he has croup otherwise it's just a cold.

Given he was ok when there totally understand her advice to me but I've googled and it says if croup then steroids may be required.

Just wanted to see if anyone else's baby had had croup and if it sounded similar?

Thanks

[sillywoman]

Mine had/have croup from time to time Strawbs. My youngest in particular tends to get it if he's a bit run down. He coughs like a Seal (barking), usually at night, and is generally a bit under the weather in the day. Sleep seems to exacerbate the cough a bit.

In the past I've found that a wet towel placed over an radiator that's on in his room helps enormously. The steam soothes the Croup. Occasionally, in extremis, I've resorted to some time in the bathroom on a camping mattress with a bath & sink full of hot water. Steroids never occurred to me & it's not a path I'd personally choose to go down unless I was left with no other options.

[Strawbs]

Ok brilliant thank you I'll try that x

[jennyh]

I have a plug in vapouriser/humidifier to help with steam inhalation if you want to borrow it for a night and see if it helps? I sometimes add some sweet thyme oil to it to help with congestion.

This one -

http://www.tesco.com/direct/vicks-humidifier/207-5376.prd?skuId=207-5376&pageLevel=&sc_cmp=pcp_GSF_Baby+Safety_207-5376

I use it a fair amount so might not be able to go without for too long but if it helps I would suggest its a good buy. The only downside is that it does make the room steamy and therefore quite warm and a bit wet but in short-term use you can just dry off the walls etc. Otherwise have you tried to lift the head end of his cot? If you think about how you cough when you are lying flat and how it is better when you are propped upright...same thing applies.

You can tell we have a baby who has a permanent cough/cold!

[nunheadmum]

Definitely sounds like croup. We find running the shower before bath to get the bathroom nice and steamy can help too. And a bowl of hot water in the bedroom (out of little hands way) can help.

I think steroids are used if it gets so bad they can't breathe. Our GP has given us some to have on standby but seldom get to that point. And we find them quite awkward to use the inhaler with a small kid so other less technical options have better results. But if the child is getting to point that it's difficult for them to breathe, call 999. But lots of kids get croup but never get so bad.

[mrs f]

Hi,

My son had croup last night. This is his third episode, the first of which we went to A&E after calling NHS direct as he had real trouble breathing and they gave him steriods then.

The other two occations it hasn't been so bad, last night for example he was coughing (barking like a seal) and it woke us up. I promptly went into his room and closed the window and got the vapouriser on with some oil burning in it. As long as they are OK breathing etc then it is best treated at home I'd say (we waited hours in a&e and he would have been better off at home resting)

The steam does help, we got a vapouriser and I think they are great, I had croup a lot as a kid and it is one of those things that you are prone to so I'd say a vapouriser is a good purchase..

It is always better in the day / worse at night so just take care and try to keep them warm, it's always passed very quickly for us, within a day or two.

Hopefully he will be better soon

[Strawbs]

Thank you everyone, i will tey all those things.. I really appreciate it.. Jenny ill pm you.. X