2 year old son on way to A&E on a blue light - ?croup
Discussion
I'm tryin to keep my cool as I'm waiting for a train to leave London kings cross, arriving in newark at half three.
He saw the GP yesterday who thought he had his usual fever and ear infection. Wife called me at 1pm today as she was concerned with his barking cough which has got worse since last evening and so I told her to go straight to GP. He had some steroids and nebulisers but not responded enough so he's going to lincoln A&E by ambulance.
Anyone got any experience of this illness? I'm a clinician myself but my specialty is cardiac and my brain goes mush when it's me or my family.
I'm trying not to panic. Croup has a very low mortality rate even for intubated patients but I'm bricking it cos its my little bear!
He saw the GP yesterday who thought he had his usual fever and ear infection. Wife called me at 1pm today as she was concerned with his barking cough which has got worse since last evening and so I told her to go straight to GP. He had some steroids and nebulisers but not responded enough so he's going to lincoln A&E by ambulance.
Anyone got any experience of this illness? I'm a clinician myself but my specialty is cardiac and my brain goes mush when it's me or my family.
I'm trying not to panic. Croup has a very low mortality rate even for intubated patients but I'm bricking it cos its my little bear!
Did they get intubated and a stay in ITU? It's the fact he's going to A&E which scares me as I tend to work resus when I do A&E work. My logical head says A&E resus is the best place you can be in a hospital cos that's where you have most staff and kit, but my heart goes into a panic. Good to hear some other ph'ers have had experience with happy endings which tallies with the literature.
Deep breathing my way up the country...
Deep breathing my way up the country...
My little one had it last week, and finished antibiotics a couple of days ago to kill off the associated ear infection. He was coughing so bad at one point he threw up massively. Not fun. Croup sounds a lot worse than it actually is, but best to take precaution if breathing gets tough. 1 in 10 babies get taken in for observation, so it's fairly routine. Once the swelling in the airways goes down (usually after a couple of days), the bark goes, but tickly cough remains for a few more days, which doesn't help their sleep. Our little man did not eat for 5 days as a result, and is just starting to eat full meals again now.
Your one will be fine. Calming them, so they don't panic and struggle for breath, is the best action for this horrible illness.
Your one will be fine. Calming them, so they don't panic and struggle for breath, is the best action for this horrible illness.
More info, for quick-reading on your mobile:
Croup is a childhood condition that affects the windpipe (trachea), the airways to the lungs (the bronchi) and the voice box (larynx).
A child with croup has a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in.
Croup can usually be diagnosed by a GP and treated at home. However, if your child’s symptoms are severe and they are finding it difficult to breathe, take them to the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Croup usually affects young children aged between six months and three years, with most cases occurring in two-year-olds. However, croup can sometimes develop in older children up to 15 years of age.
About 3 in 100 children will suffer from croup every year. The condition is more common during the late autumn and early winter months.
It tends to affect more boys than girls.
Most cases of croup are mild and get better on their own, without the need for treatment. Sitting your child upright and comforting them if they are distressed is important, because crying may make symptoms worse. Your child should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
More severe cases of croup may need to be treated with steroids to reduce the swelling in the throat.
If your child has breathing problems, hospital treatment, such as adrenaline and an oxygen mask may be required.
A child can get croup at any time of the year, although the condition is more likely to occur during late autumn and early winter months. This may be because there are more colds and viruses around at this time of year.
Initial symptoms of viral croup are similar to those of a cold. They include:
•a sore throat
•a runny nose
•a high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above (in some, but not all, cases)
•a cough
Over one to two days, specific symptoms that are characteristic of croup will develop. These include:
•a bark-like cough
•a hoarse or croaky voice
•difficulty breathing
•a harsh grating sound when breathing in, called stridor
•difficulty swallowing
Symptoms of spasmodic croup are similar to those mentioned above. However, a bark-like cough and stridor tend to occur suddenly, usually at night.
Stridor is often most noticeable when the child cries or coughs. However, in more severe cases of croup it can also occur when the child is resting or sleeping.
Symptoms tend to be worse at night. Although they usually only last for a few days, they can occasionally last up to two weeks.
Croup is a childhood condition that affects the windpipe (trachea), the airways to the lungs (the bronchi) and the voice box (larynx).
A child with croup has a distinctive barking cough and will make a harsh sound, known as stridor, when they breathe in.
Croup can usually be diagnosed by a GP and treated at home. However, if your child’s symptoms are severe and they are finding it difficult to breathe, take them to the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Croup usually affects young children aged between six months and three years, with most cases occurring in two-year-olds. However, croup can sometimes develop in older children up to 15 years of age.
About 3 in 100 children will suffer from croup every year. The condition is more common during the late autumn and early winter months.
It tends to affect more boys than girls.
Most cases of croup are mild and get better on their own, without the need for treatment. Sitting your child upright and comforting them if they are distressed is important, because crying may make symptoms worse. Your child should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
More severe cases of croup may need to be treated with steroids to reduce the swelling in the throat.
If your child has breathing problems, hospital treatment, such as adrenaline and an oxygen mask may be required.
A child can get croup at any time of the year, although the condition is more likely to occur during late autumn and early winter months. This may be because there are more colds and viruses around at this time of year.
Initial symptoms of viral croup are similar to those of a cold. They include:
•a sore throat
•a runny nose
•a high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above (in some, but not all, cases)
•a cough
Over one to two days, specific symptoms that are characteristic of croup will develop. These include:
•a bark-like cough
•a hoarse or croaky voice
•difficulty breathing
•a harsh grating sound when breathing in, called stridor
•difficulty swallowing
Symptoms of spasmodic croup are similar to those mentioned above. However, a bark-like cough and stridor tend to occur suddenly, usually at night.
Stridor is often most noticeable when the child cries or coughs. However, in more severe cases of croup it can also occur when the child is resting or sleeping.
Symptoms tend to be worse at night. Although they usually only last for a few days, they can occasionally last up to two weeks.
My 17 month old was quite unwell at the weekend, she had a temp. above 40deg, red rash, shallow breathing, listless etc.
Took her to A&E who admitted her straight away & gave her a chest x-ray and IV antibiotics.
Today she ate her first bogey.
Kids are tough little buggers and the NHS tends to err on the side of caution whenever they're ill.
Don't worry, he's in good hands.
Took her to A&E who admitted her straight away & gave her a chest x-ray and IV antibiotics.
Today she ate her first bogey.
Kids are tough little buggers and the NHS tends to err on the side of caution whenever they're ill.
Don't worry, he's in good hands.
My eldest (now 11) still occasionally suffers from it (although its now thankfully rare).
First time I witnessed it was a horrible experience, but the treatment thats worked for both of them, or at least alleviated the symptoms, has been ridiculously basic - in the bathroom, doors/windows closed, turn shower on at its hottest. Steam really did seem to help.
Fingers crossed that it gets sorted.
First time I witnessed it was a horrible experience, but the treatment thats worked for both of them, or at least alleviated the symptoms, has been ridiculously basic - in the bathroom, doors/windows closed, turn shower on at its hottest. Steam really did seem to help.
Fingers crossed that it gets sorted.
joebongo said:
Did they get intubated and a stay in ITU? It's the fact he's going to A&E which scares me as I tend to work resus when I do A&E work. My logical head says A&E resus is the best place you can be in a hospital cos that's where you have most staff and kit, but my heart goes into a panic. Good to hear some other ph'ers have had experience with happy endings which tallies with the literature.
Deep breathing my way up the country...
Neither had breathing problems, so no tubes down the throat but I'll post what happened for you.Deep breathing my way up the country...
My son was 11 months when he suffered what appeared to be a febrile convulsion. Paramedics took his temperature, which was normal, despite the fact he kept fitting, so off to A&E. Kept in A&E for a few hours and then overnight in paeds ward - gastroenteritis was an added complication.
Daughter was 4 weeks when our GP (who was formally a paediatrician) suspected meningitis. Rushed to hospital and bypassed A&E and straight in to paeds. We weren't allowed near for the first few hours while they attempted to work out what was going on and to fit all the relevant tubes, drips and things, including a lumbar puncture. I'm pleased to say they never did work out the source of the problems - and she was home within 48 hours.
Good luck, hope it's all fairly benign.
Thanks for all your posts, information and support. Bongo Jr. is tucked up in bed at home 
Here's the long version:
What actually happened was GP gave oral prednisolone and nebulised budesonide with salbutamol as he had stridor and was using the chest wall muscles therefore obviously finding it difficult to breathe.
The GP then did his O2 saturations, and they were high 80s from what I can gather. Quick conflab with other GP and ambulance called. 20 mins later ambulance turns up on blues. Scoop and run to A&E at Lincoln, control called ahead (blue phone job). On the way the steroids started working, he started breathing easier and had a kip whilst they were on sirens ("son, I am a disappoint" to use an old meme but I'll let him off). Get to A&E, crew tells reception it's been called ahead but as he was improving (sats now 97%) they didn't storm into paeds resus. They go in for a bit, paeds come and accept the referral and he goes to the day ward, gets monitored a bit, has some more calpol and oral steroids, chest x-ray etc., observe for a couple of hours more and discharge home at 5.30ish.
He had a play on need for speed in the hospital and after some milky way magic stars from the petrol station (he always want to go to every petrol station we pass in case I buy some chocolate), sausage, chips and tomato ketchup for tea, has a word with granny and grandad on the phone and bath, stories and bed.
The "watch fors" after an episode is within the next 24h for the return of the stridor (difficulty in breathing, typically inspiratory difficulty but can be expiratory) +/- the barking seal cough and if it happens, it's ambulance time again as it needs treatment asap.
Years ago they'd keep them in during the time the symptoms recur but now it's all down to money.
All staff were great and knew their onions (which is a rarity I can tell you) and I'm really impressed my wife recognised the problem.
Small vodka and coke then bed for me. Hope this thread helps someone sometime in the future.
Here's the long version:
What actually happened was GP gave oral prednisolone and nebulised budesonide with salbutamol as he had stridor and was using the chest wall muscles therefore obviously finding it difficult to breathe.
The GP then did his O2 saturations, and they were high 80s from what I can gather. Quick conflab with other GP and ambulance called. 20 mins later ambulance turns up on blues. Scoop and run to A&E at Lincoln, control called ahead (blue phone job). On the way the steroids started working, he started breathing easier and had a kip whilst they were on sirens ("son, I am a disappoint" to use an old meme but I'll let him off). Get to A&E, crew tells reception it's been called ahead but as he was improving (sats now 97%) they didn't storm into paeds resus. They go in for a bit, paeds come and accept the referral and he goes to the day ward, gets monitored a bit, has some more calpol and oral steroids, chest x-ray etc., observe for a couple of hours more and discharge home at 5.30ish.
He had a play on need for speed in the hospital and after some milky way magic stars from the petrol station (he always want to go to every petrol station we pass in case I buy some chocolate), sausage, chips and tomato ketchup for tea, has a word with granny and grandad on the phone and bath, stories and bed.
The "watch fors" after an episode is within the next 24h for the return of the stridor (difficulty in breathing, typically inspiratory difficulty but can be expiratory) +/- the barking seal cough and if it happens, it's ambulance time again as it needs treatment asap.
Years ago they'd keep them in during the time the symptoms recur but now it's all down to money.
All staff were great and knew their onions (which is a rarity I can tell you) and I'm really impressed my wife recognised the problem.
Small vodka and coke then bed for me. Hope this thread helps someone sometime in the future.
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