Croup in an infant (help please)

canadiangirl57 · October 2015

Has anyone ever experience croup in an infant? My little 1 year old was rushed to the hospital last night when he was struggling to breathe. Lucky i got him there in time before he went into a full cardiac arrest. He had croup infection in his airways. He on a oxygen machine now has been given a steriod shot to help him heal. I never even heard of croup before this experience. Knowing that if he didnt get the hospital when he did i would have lost him, has frighten me to death. Anyone ever dealt with this before it is often? Is it common. Im quite scared now. (I know this is not really a question regarding pregnancy it more parenting i just hoping maybe someone knows little more about croup then i do or can offer alittle support. I couldnt stop crying in the hospital with him all night long i know i must be strong for him but if i lost him i dont know what i would do.

BrooksMommy33 · October 2015

Oh wow. That is so scary I feel for you! I hope he begins to feel better! I'm in the same boat as you where I don't know a thing about that infection, but you are doing the right thing about trying to educate yourself. I would also look for articles on the internet and question the tar out of the doctors.

yodapup · October 2015

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I worked in ems and croup seems to be common in little kids but it looks like you got him to the hospital in time and he's in good hands.

kitteh81 · October 2015

My first daughter got croup frequently between infancy and about 3. They said that her esophagus eventually grew enough that the swelling didn't cut off her air supply, and if they've had it once it's likely that they will have it again.

Did you notice the seal - like barking cough? Usually that was our first indication, so we'd trot out the cool mist humidifier and switch between holding her in front of that and bringing her into a steam filled bathroom. I've heard that the change in temperature can help open the airways. Sometimes just taking her out into the cool night air did the trick, if we caught it early enough.

Another key was keeping her calm, and staying calm ourselves. We did have to go to the ER a few times for a steroid shot, when our steam treatment didn't do the trick. We always took her shirt off so we could keep an eye out for signs of labored breathing, and at the first indication of that we'd head over to the hospital.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this mama, it's so stressful! But they do grow out of it!

elle313 · October 2015

My daughter had croup when she was one also, and also had to get a breathing treatment and a steroid shot. She got better fast after that, and we never dealt with it again, luckily. From my understanding, croup is not a specific virus or infection, its the symptom of swelling in the throat that can happen with any respiratory infection. Like Kitteh81 says, the cool air and hot steamy air both help. I hope your little guy feels better soon!

babyxmas · October 2015

We had the exact same experience and treatment as your son did with our first son when he was about 2 years old. It's my understanding that croup has a distinctive coughing noise similar to a seal pup. This is what alerted us and prompted us to call the 24 hour nurse. Many of my friends children have had croup and all are fine after the swelling goes down. Hope he's feeling better soon.

canadiangirl57 · October 2015

Thanks for all the great advice and support. He did have a cough but at first we figure it might just be his ashama. Im been doing tons of research about croup ill be sure to try the temperature change if it ever happens again

bluecrash · October 2015

My little brother often used to get the croup as a small baby, especially in the winter. Like kitteh81 said, the temperature change really helped. My mother would wrap him in a comforter and take him outside for a few minutes in the freezing cold. But keep an eye on the fever. My brother had a seizure because of his high temperature and difficulty breathing.

ecwk · October 2015

I don't have any advice but just wanted to say sorry you had to go through that and I'm so glad your LO is ok!! I'd never heard of this before. Scary.

oceanchild · October 2015

Oh gosh! This is just what it sounds like my 19m is doing - his cough sounds like a bark and a seal. And his weird breathing thing is definitely coming from his throat and not his chest, like it's swollen some. But he's not having trouble getting air. He's had the barky cough before, but never this long/severe, so I thought it would go away with our usual home care. Definitely trying the steam and cool most in the morn while we wait for the doctor to open (if he's not made drastic improvements)!

kitteh81 · October 2015

From my experience, it's always worse at night. Just exactly what you need when you're exhausted and sleep deprived!

oceanchild · October 2015

No joke! I feel like such a freaking zombie today UGH - and the poor baby looks like one; he didn't get much more sleep than I did

canadiangirl57 · October 2015

@oceanchild did you try the steam and cool the morning? I would go to the doctor just in case. Especially if you never dealt with croup. Having my first experience was so scary. The day before he was completely normal, playing having fun then the next day totally opposite i heard that croup is air Bourne even scarier

JessKo08 · October 2015

Croup isn't airborne, contact and droplet transmission, but regardless; still super contagious. You cannot wash your hands enough! Like the PP's said, cool most humidifier running all the time and if that's not working steaming up the bathroom is usually more effective. The warm steam really seems to help. Good luck everyone! Croupy coughing is sure a scary thing to hear your baby have, make sure if your start hearing high-pitched, whistling breathing not relieved by steam you do seek medical attention though!

oceanchild · October 2015

@canadiangirl57 the steamy bathroom definitely seemed to make him feel a bit better and we may venture out later for a cool-mist humidifier. he isn't indrawing unless he gets super upset (like when he bonked his head this morn on a cabinet and got worked up crying) and we have dealt with stridor since he was a newborn, due to laryngomalacia, but he wasn't having retractions (and i always check!) so we are just going to play it by ear for now, since he's much better while up and awake, playing and stuff. i hate that these things always get so much worse at night! he was prescribed some oral pred once when he really didn't need it at all (older siblings were ill) and i filled it but never gave it to him, so i will likely give him some this afternoon to help with the inflammation tonight. it seems that is all they would do for him anyhow if i took him in (and risk exposing us all to the flu or something while we wait), so i am just going to continue to treat at home unless something gets scary this evening. i hope your sweet little one is on the mend as well! it is heartbreaking to see them feeling so badly

kitteh81 · October 2015

Actually, croup isn't even a virus in and of itself but a secondary reaction to a virus, irritant, or even a bacterial infection. The primary infection causes little ones to have swelling in the trachea and larynx causing that barky cough.

But usually it's caused by a viral infection, and yes very contagious. However, bigger kids and adults who contract the primary illness will probably not exhibit signs of croup because their airways are larger and less prone to swelling enough to cause the bark cough or difficulty breathing.

Thank goodness for that, because my first had croup frequently between infancy and about 4 years old and I don't care how many times you've gone through it, that shit does not get easier! Even knowing exactly what it is and exactly what to do, it's stressful!

Hang in there @oceanmama419 and @canadiangirl57

Parker16772 · October 2015

No advice but I wanted to say I hope your LO is feeling better soon! So scary!

canadiangirl57 · October 2015

Thank for all the great information everyone. My little guy is finally starting to feel better. Got some rest last night. He slept in my bed with me he refuses to let me put him down. He very much a mama's boy! But everytume he cough in his sleep i instantly woke up to make sure he was okay. Im a very paranoid and over protective mommy sometimes. But Today were going to see his family doctor just check up make sure he overcoming this. Croup plus asthma just horrible and scary.

Lidibear · October 2015

Our little guy, now 4, had croup twice. THe first time he was under a year old, during winter. It was the scariest thing we've been through. We rushed to the childrens ER at around 1 am. By the time I got him into the hospital after exposing him to the winter air he was doing a lot better. He received steroids and a breathing treatment. The second time we opened the freezer and let him breath in cold air. This was the first indication that he may have asthma. At 4 he is pre-asthmatic. We have a nebuliser, cold most humidifier and breathing treatments for when he gets sick. He is more prone to respiratory infections but it's pretty much under control. He starts seeing an asthma specialist once he turns 5. Just keep a watchful eye on your little one and talk to the pediatrician. Ours will see him same day anytime he starts to cough or shows any indication of getting ill.

BBEA2006 · October 2015

Mine both had it at one point, the barking cough has always been the indicator for mine. I also propped up their mattress a bit so they were not laying flat on their back as that seemed to help. Good luck!

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