My son has croup...

[samshane]

UGH - my children NEVER get sick - ever. They stay real healthy... now with only a few days left my son is so sick! Luckily for us it started this past weekend and I hope he will be done with it soon. I got him a humidifier for his room (can't believe with 3 kids I never had one!) and tonight we are going to give that a go. My friend has a son who just had it and she said the humidifier worked wonders. At least today he doesn't have a fever - just some really horrible congestion (he had a high fever last night).

I could use some positive vibes that he gets better soon AND that my other 2 don't come down with anything. They seem fine at this point - not even a cough...

 

[krystyana]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[mattsdragon]

good luck, that would suck for your son

 

[disneymom727]

My son has had croup a few times and each time we have had to give him a very small dose (per doctor) of Orapred which is of course an oral steroid. Each time this has knocked it out immediately and he is fine afterwards. The humidifier or steaming up the bathroom didn't work for him so we had to go with medication.

 

[Martha7]

I remember very well the times that my boys would get croup. I'd take them into the bathroom and run the shower on the hottest setting, filling the room with steam. After a while, he'd be able to breathe easier. Good luck and I hope he gets better ASAP!

 

[pic22]

If he gets a coughing episode during the night, Go into the bathroom and turn the shower on with the water on hot. Sit with him in the bathroom, if he won't stay alone and close the door, don't get into the shower. Have him sit in the steam for about 10 or 15 minutes. The steam will do wonders for his croup, you will hear the differences in his cough, and should allow him to sleep the rest of the night. This works for my DD. Good Luck.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

My DD had croup last week. She had a fever three nights. She was taking albuterol for the croup. Now she just has a wet cough. My 8 month old is now coughing, though not croupy and my 7 yo is coughing too. I have a sore throat and the sneezies. We can't seem to keep these bugs away. Hope the rest of your family stays healthy.

 

[Wendy1953]

You'll be in my prayers...hope for a speedy recovery, and no one else in your family coming down with it, or at least if it has to b...not until after your trip. Good luck and may God bless!

 

[d4est]

My DS had croup a few times when he was little. The humidifier was a life saver. When it was particularly bad, I would make a tent around his bed or crib with a shower curtain & have the humidifier blowing the steam in there. It really helped. Good luck & speedy recovery to your son.

 

[TwingleMum]

My DS had croup and my Doctor said cold air actually works better than the hot so he told me to stick his head in the freezer. My DS who is 4 yrs old said "WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!! ) The Doctor laughed really hard and told him that he didn't want Mommy to stick him in the freezer just have him breathe the cold air. He said its more comfortable for the kids and they tolerate it better than the steamy bathrooms. Worked very well. It has now become a private joke between the Dr and DS. The Dr will tease him that if he gives him a hard time he'll tell Mommy to stick him in the freezer.

I know how much we worry when our kids are ill, I hope your DS gets better soon and the others don't get ill. PD PD

 

[hallie615]

I hope he gets better soon, I'm sending some pixy dust for you guys.

 

[jjohnson]

My DS had croup and my Doctor said cold air actually works better than the hot so he told me to stick his head in the freezer. My DS who is 4 yrs old said "WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!! ) The Doctor laughed really hard and told him that he didn't want Mommy to stick him in the freezer just have him breathe the cold air. He said its more comfortable for the kids and they tolerate it better than the steamy bathrooms. Worked very well. It has now become a private joke between the Dr and DS. The Dr will tease him that if he gives him a hard time he'll tell Mommy to stick him in the freezer.

I know how much we worry when our kids are ill, I hope your DS gets better soon and the others don't get ill. PD PD

Along the same lines...My doctor told me to take him outside into the cool air at night if the coughing was really bad.

 

[mmcguire]

Along the same lines...My doctor told me to take him outside into the cool air at night if the coughing was really bad.

Funny you say that -- our DD had croup really bad a couple of years ago, and it scared us so much that we took her to the emergency room. By the time we got there, it had cleared up by itself, and the doctor said that sometimes all it takes is getting them into the damp night air. Amazingly, they didn't even charge us for the ER visit!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Funny you say that -- our DD had croup really bad a couple of years ago, and it scared us so much that we took her to the emergency room. By the time we got there, it had cleared up by itself, and the doctor said that sometimes all it takes is getting them into the damp night air. Amazingly, they didn't even charge us for the ER visit!

This is actually a pretty common occurence! The cold night air does work best I believe as it reduces the swelling. To the OP I would call your pediatician if you haven't already to see if they want to see your son before you leave. Good luck and have a great and healthy trip!

 

[tiggrbaby]

My third son was the only one who ever had croup, and he had it for several winters before outgrowing it. We did the humidifier/steamy bathroom routine, but we also propped up the end of the mattress where he put his head. When he was in the crib, we just put that end on a higher adjustment, and when he moved to a bed, we put a folded comforter under the mattress. The dr. said that it was easier to breathe sitting up as opposed to lying down. That and liquid abuterol kept it from getting bad enough to require emergency treatment.

 

[justcruisin]

I know how scary croup can be. DS, now 5 has been hospitalized for croup twice and has over 10 trips to the er. They'll give him racemic epi via nebulizer mutliple times and decarone by injection -- if we're lucky, that will break it.

While the air or shower works for most kids, it never worked for DS. Croup while generally routine can be very very serious (deadly) --- if you see ANY signs of stridor (look at his rib cage, if you see the skin being sucked in enough to see his ribs and hear wheezing on both the inhale and exhale) --- get to the ER or call 911.

It's not my intention to alarm anyone but croup is not always just a barking cough.

DS has been to an ENT, had the scope put up his nose to look at his throat, and a few chest x-rays. While no known cause, there is a fleshy piece skin somewhere near the voice box --- in some kids this is softer and bigger, that may make them more likely to get croup. As they age, this piece gets harder. Most kids out grow it by 5, but it can last til the teenage years (not what we wanted to hear)

fwiw, it happen most during the change of the seasons. Our ENT said they are looking into croup being caused/inflamed by GERD.

Hope your feels better and you're soon on your way to a magical vacation.

I suggest keeping him extra hydrated if you're flying --- planes tend to be very dry. Maybe he can take a steroid, your doc may prescribe one in this case?

Pixie dust and prayers in your direction!

-diana