we have croup.......

[sagemomma]

so how do you respond when your child catches a vax preventable illness both to doctors and to family?
i have heard at least 3 times this weekend "you know they have vaccinations for this stuff now".
seriously, what should i say?
my kids are suffering, croup really sucks, and i feel bad that they have it.

[a(TM)?Star]

Originally Posted by sagemomma

so how do you respond when your child catches a vax preventable illness both to doctors and to family?
i have heard at least 3 times this weekend "you know they have vaccinations for this stuff now".
seriously, what should i say?
my kids are suffering, croup really sucks, and i feel bad that they have it.

There is no vaccine for croup. Is this what you're asking about?

[sagemomma]

the dTap , is the one for croup ( or so i keep hearing over and over). also i have been told by several people that the flu vaccine helps to prevent croup .
i was told that the dtap and flu vaccine could have helped prevent them from getting croup.

[3*is*magic]

Yup - no croup vaccine is right. Both my girls are fully vaxed, and one of them had croup two weeks ago. So when someone questions you, I'd advise saying, "I've done MY homework - now you do YOURS!"

[Calidris]

dTap is for pertussis - whooping cough. NOT croup.

[mommy2maya]

Maybe you are thinking whooping cough as a vaccine preventable disease?

but by hearing it three times over the weekend,does that mean you were out and about with croupy kids? Especially if you feel they are 'suffering' from it? My ds gets croup often, and the only place he wants to be is home in his bed or vegging.

[sagemomma]

heck no i'm not out with croupy kids lol, i went out with a few friends and my mom and aunt to find a dress for DH's company party. but when i'd call home to check on DH and the boys i'd get it. well they wouldn't be sick if you'd get them the vax's that are available. i know whooping cough is pertusis, but i have been told multiple times that the dtap prevents certain types of croup.
i wasn't so sure about it either. i told them it's not the same as whooping cough which a few thought it was.

[Calidris]

DTaP is
Diptheria
Tetunus
acellular Pertussis (Whooping cough)

I think croup comes on after a flu or cold, so it might come along with Pertussis as well? so that could be what people mean?

Was it people telling you this? or doctors? cause people might mix up Croup and whooping cough. Doctors shouldn't.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by sagemomma

heck no i'm not out with croupy kids lol, i went out with a few friends and my mom and aunt to find a dress for DH's company party. but when i'd call home to check on DH and the boys i'd get it. well they wouldn't be sick if you'd get them the vax's that are available. i know whooping cough is pertusis, but i have been told multiple times that the dtap prevents certain types of croup.
i wasn't so sure about it either. i told them it's not the same as whooping cough which a few thought it was.

Croup isn't a disease itself, but a description of a group of conditions involving inflammation of the upper airway that leads to a cough that sounds like a bark, particularly when a child is crying; whereas Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis).

Viral croup is the most common. Other possible causes include bacteria, allergies, and inhaled irritants. Acid reflux from the stomach can trigger croup. Croup is usually (75 percent of the time) caused by parainfluenza viruses, but RSV, measles, adenovirus, and influenza can all cause croup.

Bacterial croup, also called epiglottitis, is a more serious condition that is often caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B, and in the past, diphtheria. It is characterized by marked swelling of the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that covers the air passage to the lungs and that channels food to the esophagus. The onset is usually abrupt, with high fever and breathing difficulties.

This site seems to do a good job at explaining croup.
http://www.uptodate.com/patients/con...=pedi_id/22768

Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough


http://kidshealth.org/parent/infecti...ing_cough.html


The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• mild cough
• low-grade fever

After about 1 to 2 weeks, the dry, irritating cough evolves into coughing spells. During a coughing spell, which can last for more than a minute, the child may turn red or purple. At the end of a spell, the child may make a characteristic whooping sound when breathing in or may vomit. Between spells, the child usually feels well.

I'd treat either one with SA.

[spero]

Since when is croup a vaccine-preventable disease?

I think the confusion comes from docs who see croup and want to call it pertussis.

My brother had chronic croup as a baby/toddler. Honestly, we were so used to his middle-of-the-night attacks that it didn't even faze us ... someone would get the bathroom steamed up with the shower running hot, and Mom would take him in there 'til his symptoms were quelled and he could sleep again.

He did scare the bejeezus out of a babysitter one late night, though.

[knucklehead]

Originally Posted by sagemomma

so how do you respond when your child catches a vax preventable illness both to doctors and to family?
i have heard at least 3 times this weekend "you know they have vaccinations for this stuff now".
seriously, what should i say?
my kids are suffering, croup really sucks, and i feel bad that they have it.

I would respond, "too bad they don't have a vaccine for unsolicited opinions." But that's just me, I can get pretty snarky.

[CallMeKelly]

When my eldest had croup the doctors at the emergency room (he had breathing problems) freaked out on me, railed at me that dtap could have helped prevent some unnamed serious disease that he "could" get infected with along with croup. A full load of hooey, they wanted to do all sorts of tests because he had only gotten two month vacc's before I had researched enough to be comfortable going vacc. free. All I can guess now is that they were considering that he might have whooping cough, not just croup but at the time all I cared about was getting him to breath comfortably. He ended up getting something through a mask and a steroid shot before he could. I've read some differing things about steroids since so I'd suggest researching treatment for croup just to be on the preinformed side for anyone whose kid is suffering.

There is a serious lack of information out there and a ton of doctors that have no idea what they are talking about.


s: any time a kid gets sick it is rough, let alone having people second guess your decisions.

[MamaJenese]

The DTap is the ONLY vaccine my son ever got and he gets croup about three times a year. BLAh. Croup sucks. I am so sorry you are dealing with it and uninformed people right now.

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by knucklehead

I would respond, "too bad they don't have a vaccine for unsolicited opinions." But that's just me, I can get pretty snarky.

[ASusan]

croup can be caused by a common cold virus. The younger the child, the more likely they are to get croup, because croup is inflammation of the passages of the throat. A more immature throat is smaller and subject to the effects of inflammation. A burst of cold air can help (go outside on the porch for a minute or 2).

We took DS to the ER last month for croup in the middle of the night. He sounded awful, and I wasn't thinking and said the word "asthma." DH was up and into his clothes before I could protest. The ER doc and nurse were great. They said they see at least 2 croupy babies a week in the middle of the night. But it's just inflammation. Steamy shower, humidifier...rest.

[K&JsMaMa]

Originally Posted by Calidris

dTap is for pertussis - whooping cough. NOT croup.

Ditto.

Croup is a virus that fully vac'd kids can get.