I think my son has croup. What should I do?

Question

My son is 19-months-old. He woke up with a deep, barking cough this morning (we're overseas and it's saturday morning, where it's early friday evening back in the states). He hasn't coughed very much... only a few times, but he cries everytime he coughs. I let him play in a steamy bathroom for about 20 minutes. It seemed to help a little and now his cough doesn't sound so bad, but I'm not sure what to do. He's not running a fever. He's been congested for a couple days. His nose is runny with thick, green phlem (sp?), but other than that he's acting normal. Should I take him to the ER now or just wait it out? Doctor's office won't be open until Monday. I called the ER and they won't give me any advice over the phone... I'm not sure what to do. I've never dealt with croup before. I've been congested for the past week myself, but it's from allergies. I don't know if my son has allergies as well or if it's a cold or something else. Any advice I'd greatly appreciate.

Please don't copy and paste an article... I've already read them all online. I need to know some people's experiences who have been through it already. Thanks

Answer 1

You poor thing! Seems like kids always come down with something when you travel:-( What you are describing sounds like classic croup symptoms. It acts like a cold (croup is caused by a virus just like a cold) during the day but at night turns in to barking coughing spasms. You're doing exactly the right thing with the steamy bathroom. He needs to go to the ER if he has stridor (sounds like a whistling sound when he breathes) that isn't improved after 20 minutes in the steamy bathroom or if his lips are looking purple/blue or you can see his ribs pulling in (its called retracting and is difficult to describe). Don't bother with cough suppressants like the OTC "DM" products. They aren't going to help the croupy cough. A decongestant might help with the phlegm (could be starting a sinus infection, but that can wait until Monday when the doctor opens).
Croup can be serious, but most kids do fine with home care. There isn't medicine available OTC to treat croup, but there are medicines a doctor can prescribe that will help. Trust your instincts. If you are really worried, take him to the ER, always better to be safe. Hope this helps and try to rest during the day because you're going to be up the next few nights. Good luck, hope he feels better soon! (Usually first 3-4 days are the worst, then improves gradually.)

Answer 2

A steamed shower is good for temporary relief of stridor (the high-pitched sound that he makes when beathing-in), but a cool-mist humidifier would be even better. Moist is good; cool moist is better. They can be bought at many discount stores or pharmacies for about $30. The best treatment is a systemic steroid, such as prednisolone by mouth or a Decadron shot, but of course they are only available from a doctor's office or ER. If he is having stridor even when calm and at rest, or if he is tugging or pulling in to breathe or having flaring of his nostrils, he needs to go to the ER.

Answer 3

Most, though not all, cases of viral croup are mild. Breathing in moist air seems to relieve many of the symptoms. Doctors will also sometimes treat with steroids, which helps with the airway swelling.

One way to humidify the air is with a cool-mist humidifier. Having your child breathe in the moist air through the mouth will sometimes break a croup attack. Or try running a hot shower to create a steam-filled bathroom where you can sit with your child for 10 minutes. Try cuddling and reading a bedtime story while doing this to help calm your child.

Sometimes, during cooler months, taking your child outside for a few minutes can help break the attack because the cool air can shrink the swollen tissues lining the airway. Parents can also try driving the child in the car with the windows down to bring in cool air.

If your child has croup, consider sleeping overnight in the same room to provide close observation. If you are not able to break your child's fast breathing and croupy cough, call your child's doctor or seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Medical professionals will need to evaluate your child if the croup appears serious or if there's any suspicion of airway blockage or bacterial infection. Medications such as epinephrine or corticosteroids may be given to reduce swelling in the upper airways. Oxygen may also be given, and sometimes a child with croup will remain in the hospital overnight for observation. As with most illnesses, rest and plenty of fluids are recommended.
Duration

The symptoms of croup generally peak 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of infection start. Croup resulting from viral infection usually lasts less than a week.
Complications

The vast majority of children recover from croup with no complications. Rarely, some children will develop complications such as ear infection or pneumonia.

Children who were born prematurely or who have a history of lung disease (such as asthma) are more likely to develop severe symptoms of croup and may require hospitalization. Croup rarely causes any long-term complications.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor

Immediately call your child's doctor or seek medical attention if your child has any of the following symptoms:

* difficulty breathing, including rapid breathing, belly sinking in while breathing, or the skin
* between the ribs pulling in with each breath
* stridor
* pale or bluish color around the mouth
* drooling or difficulty swallowing
* greater inactivity than usual when ill
* high fever
* very sick appearance

Answer 4

Sounds like croup. You're doing it all right. But add a decongestant. But before doing that, call your doctor and ask them directly over the phone. The doctors always want to knwo when your child is having breathing duress. Good news! The croup is a virus that lasts one or two nights! Oh, and let him sleep sitting up of you can, that has helped us inthe past :) Good Luck tonight! I know it can be scary!!

Answer 5

Croup is a viral infection that affects mostly younger children (under 5-6). It causes swelling in the child's vocal cords, which is what causes the barky cough. The vocal cords are already the narrowest part of the air passages, and any swelling from infection may narrow the airway enough to obstruct breathing. Croup usually lasts 5-6 days and is worse at night. The symptoms tend to peak on the second or third night. Croup may begin without warning when child suddenly sits up in bed with a barking cough. Or it may begin as a cold that gradually escalates into a croupy cough. The main concern for parents is to recognize when croup is serious and when it is not.
Is Croup contagious? Yes, it is about as contagious as the common cold. Good hand washing is important to prevent spread.

Symptoms of Croup
Barky cough: A child will sometimes awaken from sleep with a croupy cough, and it can be frightening, for child and parent.
Fever: Often will be fever, but usually below 104.
Hoarse voice. This is also from the swelling of the voice box.
Stridor: This is the most concerning symptom of croup. Stridor is a harsh, raspy, whooping, gasping sound when your child breathes in.
Symptoms of the common cold can precede the croup or they can linger afterwards.
Signs of Non-serious Croup
The features to observe are the behavior of your baby and how the croup is progressing. If your child is smiling, happy, playful, looking around, interested in the environment, and not obviously bothered by the croup, these are good signs. He may have a barky cough, but is not having stridor (see above). As a final reassurance, if your barking child is able to lie down and sleep without repeated interruption, his breathing is not jeopardized.

Signs of Serious Croup
Here's when to be concerned but not to panic. The child whose airway is obstructed and who is unable to get enough air has a worried look on his face and is not interested in any play or interaction, as if concentrating all his energy on getting air. Child won't lie down; he just sits up and barks, and he can't sleep. When you watch the little dent in child's neck just above the breastbone, it caves in with each labored breath. This sign is called indrawing. Stridor (see above) is another sign to watch for. The stridor will sound worse when you child is agitated or crying. When the child is resting calmly, the stridor usually lessens or goes away. If your child is calm, but still has stridor, this is a sign that the croup is worsening and requires immediate treatment, see below.

Treating Croup
Calm your child. Croup can be frightening for your child. Crying will make the stridor sound much worse. It is important to keep your child relaxed by cuddling and staying calm yourself. Sit baby upright in your lap, play soft music, sing lullabies, read a story. If breastfeeding, offer the great pacifier.

Steam up the bathroom. Humidity helps clear child's breathing passages. Turn on the hot shower in your bathroom and close the door. While keeping your child calm, sit with them on your lap in the steamy bathroom. You should see some improvement in about ten minutes.

Inhalation of cool mist. If you have a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer, let your child breathe directly in front of the stream of mist. Once the child improves, keep the mist flowing near the bed for the rest of the night. If you only have a hot mist vaporizer, you can still use it but don't get too close, as child can get burned.

Cool night air. If necessary, bundle-up your child and take him outside into the cool night air for 10-20 minutes, or take a slow car ride with the windows open. The misty night air is why babies with croup often improve en route to the ER.

Treat the fever. Using Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.

Answer 6

It is best to take the baby to the E.R. and let the Dr. prescribe an antibiotic.The green phlem indicates an infection.The steam is a good thing to be doing keep that up.

Answer 7

I'll right I don't really know what croup is, but you should use your instincts and take him to the ER. Then at least you won't be worry about it anymore and you'll be on the safeside. ps. You'll feel a lot better. Hopes this helps!

Answer 8

Cough is caused by a number of ailments.
It can be treated by over the counter medicines
or home remedies. More information available
at http://ailments.in/cough.html

Answer 9

Be worried if he has a high fever, that is serious time when combined with that kind of cough. Otherwise hydrate and give him a decongestant.

Answer 10

i would wait it out and see if you can find some sort of vicks vapor rub. it most likly is that he is conjested and babies usually tend to only breath out of there noses so that might be why hes crying he could be scared. it could also be altitude sickness if you are higher than you usually are at home