Tell me about croup

ArcticFox · January 2012

My 4.5 year old has been sick the entire past week. Last Sun-Wed it was 'just a cold' and by Wednesday night she was feverish and crying about her ear (ear infection). She basically spent Thurs-Fri-Sat in bed and she's finally getting better.

Now my 2 year old is congested and has a cough for 2 days. It is starting to sound a little like a bark to me, but maybe because I am so worried it is croup. She actually slept great last night with only maybe 1/2 dozen coughs throughout the night.

Is there anything I need to know? I'm hoping this doesn't turn into her being completely miserable. I'm so mad that my older DD got us all sick - I guess it was inevitable - but handing her little sister a dirty tissue to throw away just takes the cake -

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt · January 2012

When Justin had colds people would always give me the ole' "Oh you'll just KNOW when it's croup... you'll hear". J never had it ::knock on wood:: Nat had it, the cough 100% seriously sounded like the sea lions barking at the aquarium. It's is the strangest (and scariest the 1st time) cough.

jewelsonu · January 2012

from what I understand it really sounds like barking seals. There is nothing you can do for it except for run a warm shower and vaporizer.

you're not really mad that N gave H a tissue to throw away right? My kids were both sick last week b/c Ethan wouln't listen when I told him to leave Sophia's sippy cup alone. Sure enough the next day he had the fever and rash as well.

ArcticFox · January 2012

lol - I'm not really mad.. our house is like a germ hotspot, so I'm sure there was pretty much no way to avoid it. N has been coughing on all of us for a week straight. The tissue was just a big eye roller for me

June4bride2be · January 2012

R's croup started really fast, fine when he went to bed and woke up unable to breathe. His bark was more on the inhale, it was horrible and I knew what it was right away. He needed a breathing treatment to open his airway to get ride of the strider/weazing. Croup makes their airway swell and that is what causes the seal bark.

Hope your house is germ free and healthy soon!