My 16 month old just had his fourth episode of croup in less than 4 months. All have involved the tell-tale middle of the night 'barking seal' cough and varying degrees of stridor. Raspy voice, no fever. He is averaging about one episode a month lasting 1-3 nights in duration. The first 3 episodes occured after a few days of runny nose/mild cold symptoms but this most recent one came completely out of the blue. The second episode was so severe (and included daytime cough and stridor, which apparently is unusual) that he ended up in the hospital for overnight observation in a "croup tent". The other episodes we've been able to treat at home with alternating cool/hot mist and extra nightime TLC/nursing to keep him calm (crying exasperates the symptoms). Although, last night he showed no interest in nursing, which pretty much shocked dh and I since this is his normal "go to" when he's not feeling well.
I am not really getting anywhere with my pediatrician, who prescribes oral steroids (orapred) each time and tells me that some kids are just prone to croup. The steroids do seem to work (we've only used when moderate to severe symptoms arise), but I am uncomfortable with him taking them so often and I'd like to figure out why this is happening so frequently.
In reading more about this on the internet (my best source of info for my son's health it seems!), it sounds like we are dealing with spasmodic croup, rather than viral croup. Possible causes include allergies, but it's not clear to me what type of allergies (e.g. food, environmental, inhaled, etc?).
He is a fairly healthy kid- ebf until solids introduced around the 8 month mark-now eating table foods well and nursing 1-3 times per day. He has had a few ear infections (maybe 4 in the past year?) and did have acid reflux as a baby. Also a mild case of RSV last Feb. Not sure if any of this relates.
Any mamas out there with advice on prevention/treatment of chronic croup?
I am not really getting anywhere with my pediatrician, who prescribes oral steroids (orapred) each time and tells me that some kids are just prone to croup. The steroids do seem to work (we've only used when moderate to severe symptoms arise), but I am uncomfortable with him taking them so often and I'd like to figure out why this is happening so frequently.
In reading more about this on the internet (my best source of info for my son's health it seems!), it sounds like we are dealing with spasmodic croup, rather than viral croup. Possible causes include allergies, but it's not clear to me what type of allergies (e.g. food, environmental, inhaled, etc?).
He is a fairly healthy kid- ebf until solids introduced around the 8 month mark-now eating table foods well and nursing 1-3 times per day. He has had a few ear infections (maybe 4 in the past year?) and did have acid reflux as a baby. Also a mild case of RSV last Feb. Not sure if any of this relates.
Any mamas out there with advice on prevention/treatment of chronic croup?
