We leave in 2 days and DS has been exposed to Croup

[Vickibean]

My sitter told me tonight that 2 kids in her day care have come down with croup. DS2 started with the yucky nose on Sunday and started coughing this morning. I'm worried about the plane. He had tubes put in a year ago and, as of 2 months ago, they were still in place, but I'm not counting on it.

She said her sister puts Vicks on the bottoms of her kids feet and it helps because of something to do with the pores opening up better there. Has anyone else heard of this????

 

[2cutekidz]

My sister in law just mention the same thing this past weekend! She said her doctor recommended it. I had never heard about it before and I have 2 young kids!

 

[james'mommy]

Whenever my son has croup he ends up with croup he needs a liquid steroid to knock it out of him. Maybe your doctor can prescribe one just in case.

 

[dougsmom98]

My 7 year old twins just had croup and it was so bad that they both needed steroids. With four kids I don't run to the doctors every time they are sick because kids are always sick, but this time the virus was different and we actually took the first one who got it to the ER because he could not breath when he was laying down. We tried having him take a steaming shower and then we had him go outside to try to open up his airways but it didn't work. They gave him an inhaler to use and also a steroid shot. He felt so much better by the next day. A few days later my other son also was having trouble breathing and woke up at 5 am gasping for air. We panicked and gave him some of his brother's inhaler and then got him to the doctor and they put him on steroids too. The doctor said the particular type of croup that is going around here needs to be treated because it is a nasty strain.
If your DS has a cough and is feeling yucky, I would call the doctor and mention that you are concerned about the plane.
I also just heard about the Vicks. It can't hurt.
Good luck.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Oh No

We just got thru a nasty bout of Croup with both kids. Lots of sleepless nights. Pediatrician gave us liquid steroid meds and it cleared up pretty quickly. He said its literally been an epidemic in our area.

With the infant we were pretty much parked in the bathroom throughout the night with the hot shower going. It was pretty scary.

I'd definitely see if the doc can get you a prescription before you leave.

 

[CraftyCrissy]

If he is starting to show symptoms of the croup, get him to the doctor and get a script for the steroids. Keep him full of water and diluted juice, ice pops, etc. Stay away from milk and dairy. Keeping him hydrated will keep the secretions thinner.

My 7 year old was in the hospital for 3 nights last spring with croup. He's been getting it since he was a newborn. Irish redhead, eczema, respiratory issues seem to go hand in hand (in our family at least.) When he starts to flare up we do the steroids either liquid or through a nebulizer (depending on the severity) and albuterol treatments.

Hang in there.

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Vickibean

I hope your little guy is feeling better quickly. I just posted on a new thread that we leave for Disney on Saturday and my DD started last night with a stomach bug, so I can relate to your situation! DD is only 8 mos, so we don't have any experience with croup, but I can remember getting it myself as a child. Not fun!

Hopefully we will both be visited by the "health fairy" and will get to experience vacation germ free!

Mommy2Abby

 

[hmacmahony]

My middle daughter is the croup queen. Only had to do steroids once, usually the shower and cold air works for her. We have had it once at disney (she amazes me, she will be perfectly fine, and boom, we go on vacation and she ends up with croup). She has only ran a fever once, with it, and that was the first time.
Her ped said because she has had it once, she could get it easier (not really sure if this is true or not). She was also just diagnosed with asthma, so not sure if that triggers the croup either.
And yes, I know the vicks on the feet sounds SILLY, but I SWEAR it works! We just started doing this,and within minutes the cough goes away for hours, and it is amazing!!
Good luck, I could call your doctor, maybe you could have a script filled just in case. But, remember to try the sitting in the steam, and cold air, for us that has always worked (but the first time)
good luck

 

[bumbershoot]

Her ped said because she has had it once, she could get it easier (not really sure if this is true or not).

Makes sense to me. Growing up, the impression I got of "croup" is that it's your own body's manifestation of illness from any given "bug". A bug would go through our house, and while I would end up with bronchitis symptoms, my brother would go into croup symptoms. I'd be miserable in my own way, and he'd have the humidifier going, croup-coughing all night...same bug, different people, different responses (which, of course, proves Pasteur's whole "germ theory" absolutely wrong, but I digress).

So yeah, if she's prone to, as I put it, going into croup, then yes, she'll have croup when exposed to bugs, while other kids might not respond in the same way. I've never had a croup cough in my life, even when my brother and I were little and sharing rooms and being sick at the same time. (and I'm the one who tends towards asthma...silly brother's lungs seemed to have gotten enough workout from all that croup-coughing that his are perfectly healthy)

 

[PollyannaMom]

Haven't heard of the Vicks trick before, but one of the peds in our practice recommended Benadryl for croup, and we've sworn by it ever since!

 

[LJRJR]

Croup has also been very common in my house. When my daughter got it at about 2 years old I did end up taking her to the ER, becuause she was having such trouble breathing. I have been given the liquid steriod to give to my children, but I dont use it unless I really need to, that is a very powerful drug. My doctor says the croup cough at night usually lasts for three nights (and in my case he is correct). After that there can be a really bad cough for up to three weeks. Often, my children would only cough (the croup cough) during the night. One minute they are fine and the next, they would have that horrible cough that sounds like a seal. I definately think that some kids get the croup and some kids dont. Two of my children have come down with the croup numerous times, and the third has never been bothered by it.

 

[Vickibean]

We leave in under 13 hours, and it was a pretty quiet night. A few coughs, but no croup (fingers crossed). My oldest had croup once, and he got a steroid injection and was fine in a few hours. I just hope we don't have to try to fit urgent care into our touring plan (again).