Croup Contagious?

[Greenlea]

I'm putting this here instead of in health, because it has to do with kids and a party.

My niece was in the E.R. last night with croup.  We have a family party tomorrow so I asked my SIL what was going on with it.  She said that my niece was acting better and her fever broke, so she's still planning on bringing her to the party, which is tomorrow.  If she was just in the E.R. last night - wouldn't she still be contagious tomorrow? 

I ask because I was planning on bringing my 4.5 mth old and 2yr old son to the party with my DH.  Now I don't think I want to go, as I do not want them to get croup, especially my younger one. 

Also, my SIL said, if my niece didn't go, her DH and other two kids (6 & 1) were still planning on going.  Couldn't they be carrying the virus, or already have it even if they aren't showing symptoms yet?  And possibly give it to my kids even though my niece isn't at the party? 

I don't want to stop my SIL and kids from going to the party if they want to, but I just want to make sure if we do go, we wont' get sick.

[Peony]

Croup is a condition caused by a virus, could be any number of viruses. Not all kids get croup, some do, others don't. Now the virus that caused it is another story, and how contagious that is is anyone's guess. And if the other children are contagious but with no symptoms yet, big unknown. Having had one child that has gotten croup numerous times, I wouldn't be taking her to a party where other children would be that soon after having it. 

[Addie]

Ditto what Peony said. My DS had croup recently, and his ped said there are something like forty different viruses that can cause it. So, if your niece is contagious, it doesn't mean your kids will get croup - but it also doesn't mean they won't, of course. 

Also, croup typically gets worse at night. So just because your niece seems to be feeling better today, tonight could be a different story and could cause them to change their minds. Croup symptoms typically last 5-6 days, and peak around the 2nd or 3rd day (not for everyone, of course, but it was true for DS). Do you know if she got treated with steroids in the ER? That could contribute to her feeling better.

Here's some useful info on croup. HTH!

[Greenlea]

So my niece woke up with the bad cough still and a 103.3 fever today.  I decided, after these couple of opinions and some opinions of people IRL who's kids have had croup, to not go to the party.  The fact that her fever has not broken, to me, means she's still contagious and I just don't want to expose my young 4.5 mth old to that, let alone my 2yr old.  They both got the flu at the beginning of the month after being at a birthday party with a sick boy, so I am just not going to risk that again.  No hard feelings, not mad, just being a cautious parent.

Edited by Greenlea - 4/14/11 at 7:13am

[JudiAU]

They are made because your behavior "made" their behavior look bad.

In fact, they made poor choices for the health of their sick kid and the store of others.

[myfairbabies]

Croup can be very scary, especially for a tiny baby with tiny airways. I still remember the pure terror I felt as a child when I would get croup, and be unable to breath. I thought I was going to die. You were right, I would not have brought my kids to that party. The parent feel guilty and are trying to push that guilt onto you. They'll get over it.

[1blueheron]

Oh gee, no you didn't do anything to merit anger, unless you went around badmouthing them to others or something.  When I saw the first post, I was going to suggest a "pedi advised against us going" approach, but obviously it's too late for that.

Croup sucks, and sometimes it sucks A LOT, so no way would I have gone.  Since it's generally viral, I don't think I'd take temporary symptom relief as a sign that someone's not contagious (or absence of symptoms + exposure, in the case of siblings).

You did the right thing, IMO, and as someone else said, chances are they'll get over it.  

[Peony]

Wait, are these the family members that had the B-Day party where the birthday child was quite ill during the party and you guys ended up getting the nastiness? If that was you and this is the same family then yeah, I wouldn't expect them to suddenly realize the error of their ways and that not everyone wants to share in the misery that is sick children. Some people just lack common sense and courtesy to others which is not dragging sick children to a party. 

[Agatha_Ann]

I get so angry when it comes to croup, because we had family do the same thing! They were coming to town for a Thanksgiving or Easter thing, and sent an email on their way out the door (before the 3 hour drive) that youngest has croup, just letting everyone know in case that makes them uncomfortable.HOW SELFISH! You know your kid is sick with a very contagious virus, but you are still coming and expecting everyone else to make concessions for YOU. GRRRR! Well, we ended up stopping by just for about 10 minutes, because we wanted to say hi to all the family coming. DS3 was super sick within three days. If you can't tell, I'm just a little bitter about it You are totally in the right, and I agree with the previous poster, you are making good choices for your child and it is making them realize how
 

[Agatha_Ann]

Sorry, posting is all kinds of messed up for me today! It is making them realize how selfish they are being!

[Lisa1970]

I do not know that it is contagious. I have never had 2 children get it within a long time of each other. I have 5 children.

[cocoanib]

You are doing nothing wrong. I would'nt go either.

They just feel bad about their decision, so really it's on them.

[Lisa1970]

There is no way it would be contagious..or that anything would be contagious, after the symptoms have gone by. Things are contagious before symtoms and sometimes during, but once the fever is gone and no more symptoms, all is fine. 

[nukuspot]

My 2 y/o just had croup.  Our doctor said the virus (parainfluenza) that caused it can be contagious for up to 7 days.  And she said for sure as long as there is fever they are contagious.  My DD has a fever at night but less in the day.  Her cough was way worse at night than in the day.  It really sucked, she didn't sleep for 4 days straight, and she got it from our Children's Museum.  Yes, it is contagious!  I would have not brought her to the party.  I think you made the right decision.

[MomtoDandJ]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

They are made because your behavior "made" their behavior look bad.

In fact, they made poor choices for the health of their sick kid and the store of others.

Yes, I totally agree! You are totally correct to do what's best for your family - and I would not have taken my children to a party under those circumstances either. They are just upset because your decision not to go highlighted the fact that they were being inconsiderate towards others.

[bella99]

My daughter had croup when she was 23 months.  She went from mild cold symptoms to the awful croupy cough within a day.  BUT...she never had a fever and after being treated with steroids, she exhibited only a minor cough for a few days after.

I think it is completely understandable to not want to take your children to a party with a child with croup or any other contagious virus for that matter.  Any respiratory virus in a young baby or toddler can result in croup, because it's the inflammation of the airway that causes the diagnosis of croup (adults don't get it because our airways are much larger and the same inflammation doesn't affect us in the same way).  I don't think they should be bringing her to the party if she still has a fever.  However, just because she is sick, doesn't mean her siblings shouldn't attend the party.  That would be like suggesting they all stay home from school just because they have a sick sibling at home and that's not realistic.

[Greenlea]

Originally Posted by Peony 

Wait, are these the family members that had the B-Day party where the birthday child was quite ill during the party and you guys ended up getting the nastiness? If that was you and this is the same family then yeah, I wouldn't expect them to suddenly realize the error of their ways and that not everyone wants to share in the misery that is sick children. Some people just lack common sense and courtesy to others which is not dragging sick children to a party. 

Actually not the same family, but yeah that was me that posted that.  My kids got the flu at the beginning of the month from another family party (but different party goers/host) so that was making me want to be extra cautious.

Originally Posted by bella99 

My daughter had croup when she was 23 months.  She went from mild cold symptoms to the awful croupy cough within a day.  BUT...she never had a fever and after being treated with steroids, she exhibited only a minor cough for a few days after.

I think it is completely understandable to not want to take your children to a party with a child with croup or any other contagious virus for that matter.  Any respiratory virus in a young baby or toddler can result in croup, because it's the inflammation of the airway that causes the diagnosis of croup (adults don't get it because our airways are much larger and the same inflammation doesn't affect us in the same way).  I don't think they should be bringing her to the party if she still has a fever.  However, just because she is sick, doesn't mean her siblings shouldn't attend the party.  That would be like suggesting they all stay home from school just because they have a sick sibling at home and that's not realistic.

Right, and I understand that.  I never expected them to keep their other kids home.  It just worried me that since she still had the fever, and was contagious, that her other kids may already be sick so  I was just choosing to not be around any of their family.  I was making that choice for my family, without trying to stop their whole family from going to the party.

Edited by Greenlea - 4/14/11 at 7:14am

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by Lisa1970 

There is no way it would be contagious..or that anything would be contagious, after the symptoms have gone by. Things are contagious before symtoms and sometimes during, but once the fever is gone and no more symptoms, all is fine. 

This is not always true. Noroviruses, for instance, can be contagious for up to two weeks after the symptoms have resolved. That is why it is so difficult to prevent them from spreading.

Croup is not caused by any one microorganism. There are several viral and bacterial causes, including parainfluenza, influenza A and B, RSV, adenovirus, measles, and a number of primary and secondary bacterial infections. Each one of those has its own pattern of incubation and contagion. Parainfluenza is implicated in about 75 % of cases. That virus continues to be excreted for three to sixteen days following primary infection. The incubation period is two to seven days, which means that it's possible, I believe, for the child to be contagious for 14 days following the onset of symptoms. It's also very common for older family members to be infected but asymptomatic, and to shed virus.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/hpivfeat.htm
http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/virol/para-rsv-aden.htm
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/224708-overview


OP-- I think you were right. Obviously we can't all stay home all the time, just on the chance that we might be carrying something. Illness is a fact of human life. But with a child who was showing symptoms THAT DAY, I think it's irresponsible to take that child out and expose others, especially young children and babies, to a serious illness. And while viral croup is generally mild, it can be serious in babies and young toddlers especially. Sick children belong at home.

[Asiago]

I agree. BTW, I would have made the same decision as you, so would many other parents.

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

They are made because your behavior "made" their behavior look bad.

In fact, they made poor choices for the health of their sick kid and the store of others.

[mommyofmakayla]

I don't know if I would still go to the party if I were you. If you are that concerned (not saying you don't have a reason to be concerned, u do). There may be other kids that are carrying virus' that have no other symptoms and don't know ityet.