[Kay1]

Last night my 4 year old had a very sudden, very severe case of croup. He was 100% well at bedtime and when I checked on him at 10pm. It was a warm night. At 10.30pm he woke with a couple of sharp barking coughs and great difficulty breathing. He had a loud stridor on the in and out breaths and retractions when trying to breathe. Steam didn't help nor did going outside. We called an ambulance and when they arrived after 30 minutes he was given adrenalin by nebuliser and oxygen and taken to hospital. His breathing improved and he was monitored for 4 hours and then allowed to come home.

We have a dose of redipred to give him this evening but I am so scared of it happening again tonight. It was so scary.

If you have experience with this I would really appreciate hearing from you. In particular, I wonder if your kids are prone to croup, what can you do when you are on holidays, going on a plane etc where you may not be able to get quick emergency medical treatment? We are going on holidays soon, not anywhere terribly remote but also probably not somewhere where we'll get a quick response from an ambulance and I'm a bit worried. I know some people are given redipred in powder form to make up but I am not sure that would have helped us last night as it was so sudden and severe.

My older son had croup a few times but it was never this bad and responded to steam etc. Also we had some warning with him, some coughing etc.

Thanks in advance.

This post has been edited by Kay1: 07/11/2012, 11:49 AM

[galba]

MY DS10 had it last year and ended up in hospital overnight. He's had it before when he was a baby but nothing since then.

If it happened on holiday I would just take him straight to the ER for some steroids. If it's on a plane and it's life-threatening then the plane will divert and land as they would do for anything that needed emergency treatment.

[farmgal]

My 4 year old developed croup last week too. We did not have any medicine in the night so took him into the bathroom and ran a hot shower. The steam seemed to help him breath easier. I put the steamer on in his room too, not sure that did much. I also gave him Nurofen, which stopped the pain in his throat and that calmed him down and I am sure helped stop the coughing.

The next day went to the dr and got Redipred, it worked a treat and in to days after two doses the croup has gone.

If you are going on holidays I would have spare Redipred with you.

Good luck...croup is horrible!

This post has been edited by farmgal: 07/11/2012, 11:57 AM

[Natttmumm]

It is very scary. Both my girls have had croup but we did manage them at home so maybe it wasn't as bad as your DS.
We had redipred prescribed for 3 nights after the first attack. We were told to give it before bed to help keep the airways open. They still coughed but didnt struggle to breath with that. I have used this a few times and have always found it helped if given before bedtime around 8 pm. If its too early it didn't last all night.
In the middle of an attack I can't give it as my girls vomit. I know redipred lasts 28 days so you could take some with you on holidays. We are on holidays and it has worried me but a hospital is not too far.
I hope he is ok tonight

[Regular Show]

My DS is prone to croup and has been hospitalized before with it. There is really no need to go straight to the ER though and can be managed at home (unless as severe as you decribed)

Keep some Reprimed at home and administer as soon as you notice the croup has come on. Also try this old wives remedy in the meantime to help them breathe;

The old remedy for croup was the three two one mix:- 3 Parts water to two parts vinegar and one part methylated spirits. Soak a towel or cloth in it and tie it around the child's neck.

It works

[Kay1]

Does anyone know how fast redipred works? Last night I'm not sure I'd have gotten it into him as he was so distressed.

[WibbleWobble]

DS (3) has had croup twice this year. First time sounds a bit like the experience you had, it was very scary seeing him struggle to breath. It was pretty bad for about 2 nights and then eased off. We found taking him out side at night helped a bit. We also had him in the bed with us so that when he woke we could reassure him before he got to distressed for the cough. We ended up at emergency and were given prednisone for him.

This time we realized what it was much quicker (last time it started as a normal cough and gave cough medicine, shouldn't give it) and got to the drs. Again given prednisone and also Bricanyl. This time around the croup cough has cleared up much quicker, so not sure if it is due to the addition of Bricanyl or just a milder case of croup.

If you are going away I would take a supply with you to be on the safe side.

Hope you DS is feeling better soon.

[Kay1]

Cadie that sounds interesting.

I have always managed DS1's at home but this was so severe and there was absolutely no warning. I will make an appointment with the GP and discuss measures to take if it happens again.

[jameses mum]

My son has had croup since he was a baby (now 7). His specialist advises against steam, but whatever works for you.
I always have a bottle of Redipred on hand, but he isn't one of those kids it works really quickly on. A nebuliser is the most effective way of relieving his symptoms when things are bad.

All I really came on here to say was, if at all possible, get Redipred rather than Predmix granules - the Predmix has to be refrigerated AND it tastes like battery acid

[Kay1]

jameses mum - what do you give in the nebuliser?