I am pretty sure My youngest son has what I think is called the croup. He has a seal like bark, and his breathing is really loud. Any suggestions besides the vaporizer?????

Way back when my D had the croup I was told run the shower very hot to create some steam and take her into the bathroom...same as a vaporizor i guess but it seemed to work. Hope he's feeling better soon, it is the worse thing when a little one is sick...

I'd call the doc.

Noodle<--- doesn't mess around with sick kids..especially not if it's a breathing issue..could be a bad cold..could be asthma onset..not good, not good at all. If he is struggling to breathe..seriously, I'd go to the ER. Err on the side of caution.

Noodle

Mine had that too. Go into the bathroom and turn on the hot water in the shower. Bring baby in with you, shut the door, and just hold him. Not in the shower, just in the bathroom. Should clear right away. If not - go to the ER.

I tried that earlier and it did seem to help. However he is worse now, I will go try again, be back.

I know how scary it is. Mine would be struggling for breath. But if you tried it before, (the shower) go to the ER. They give them breathing treatments.

By the way, they do grow out of it.

I tried my nebulizer with some saline. I am not sure if it was that, the cough medicine or sheer exhaustion that did the trick but little Michael fell asleep fast! I hope he feels better soon.

I get the croup all the time (yes still at 26- crazy huh!) and I know how to treat me, but this was the first time for Michael, and I got a little frazzled.

Thanks for the help.

Glad to hear that. Keep a lot of humidity in your house tonight.

I only have one vaborizor, how can I do that?

Close the windows, run the shower, boil water.

KMEJ,
I remember how scary it was to hear our dd barking like that (she was only 1). We did the hot shower routine, followed with some cough medicine and it knocked her out. I sat in her room that whole night and we took her in to see her doc first thing the next morning.

Just keep it humid and listen for him to see if it gets bad again. Good luck!

CC

DISCLAIMER: This website is NOT a substitute for medical evaluation.

If your son indeed has croup there is no antibiotic, etc.. that he can be given. The treatment is supportive. The advice you have recived here is good. Try the vaporizer, nebulizer therapy would be also ok. The keys to seeking prompt medical attention are:

1. signs of dehydration --count his wet diapers, inability to keep food/drink down b/c of cough, vomiting, etc...

2. Breathing difficulties (i.e rib retractions). Look at his chest wall, if you can see his ribs retract and expand and you see him using his neck muscles etc.. to help him breath then seek prompt emergency attention.

I would call your pediatricians office NOW and at least run the case by their triage nurse. This website is by no means a substitute for proper medical care or advice (including my own --> I have not treated infants/kids since I was a 3rd year medical student which seems like 125 years ago <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> . I hope this helps.

Goodluck with him and let us know how he is feeling in the am.

Yep - Lemonman is right again (Thanks Doc). Rib retractions - that is what my son got when he was a baby - It was very terrifying. Call your doctor.

I agree with lemonman...please be careful...when my son was small, I assumed croup....his barking like a dog ended up being double pneumonia.

It's also good to know that pneumonia doesn't always come with fevers. It's not uncommon.

Take no chances.

Definately follow lemmonmans suggestions but i also have one more thing for you to try.. My son has had croup 3x's and the drs. told me to bundle him up and bring him outside for short periods of time .. they said the cold air helps.. Not sure where you live if it's cold or not but that did help... Although if he's not better by today get him to the dr. immediately.. My nephew had it so bad he needed to be hospitalized for a day.. Good luck...

KMEJ,

I am sorry that your child is sick. All of these ideas are good ones...but I'd also follow Noodle's advice and take the child to the doctor.

Lemonman - if you have a minute, some perspective would be welcome. My wife is going to college to become a nurse. The program she's in now will qualify her as an LPN. Lately, she has begun to think very seriously about becoming a doctor. (She is still young - just 28.)Now...I know you see this kind of thing on shows like ER. But in real life, do you know of many nurses who have made the transition? It seems to me that someone in that postion would have a bit of an advantage, since he or she would enter medical school with more medical knowledge than the average new student. But, I'm curious about whether you see any potential bumps in the road.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We made it through the night. Michael slept on me all night long, because when ever I tried to lay him down even propped on pillows he woke up crying with in a minute and sounded worse. As long as I held him he slept- his breathing was loud but it did not seem to bother him much. I am waiting to hear from H this morning as o how Michael is doing today. I was able to get him to stay asleep when I left by wrapping him in his blanket and laying him on my pillow (must have smelled enough like me and it was still warm). He was still coughing when I left and I could hear his breathing out into the hallway, hopefully he is doing better this A.M. or I will be making him an appointment.

Thanks for all the suggestions and support.

KMEJ,

Hopefully, the little one is doing better. Will your H take him to the doctor if he needs to go? Or is that your job, too?

He will if I set it up and tell him he has too. H just usually thinks I over-react. Sometimes I do. However brought DS7 into the clinic because I thought he had walking Pnemonia (SP) and found out he has asthma- H does not believe he has it, thinks DS7 is just eating too much junk and getting fat. Kid is only 70# at age amost 8, yeah he has a little padding (not much at all actually)- but he is not fat as H says. Oh well- H is just disappointed because son is not the athelete that he wants him to be.

Hmmmmmm....I'm not liking all of this, KMEJ.

I hear about a man who has a difficult, distant relationship with his father...who is disappointed in his own sons. That is a recipe for disaster for your boys.

Does your H openly encourage your son to be more athletic? Does he tell him he loves him and that he's proud of him?