Croupy Kid - Update

"Croupy Kid", that's the label K got at the hospital last Friday. Since our midnight visit to the ER, we learned tons about that nasty Croup, and we just wish we had known some facts before it happened. Here are some of the facts that we learned:

• the virus causes swelling of airways in a throat area not lungs (even though it sounds like the problem is in the lungs)
• croup has a characteristic funny sounding cough (barking seal)
• it attacks at night
• once a child gets croup, it may come back with the next cold but should go away by the age of 5

Treatment we got at the hospital:

• breathing treatment (air with medicine was blown through a tube into K's face; the tube was never forced into her throat, thank goodness)
• Prednisolone, a medicine with steroids taken orally
  

After googling the side effects of Prednisolone, we found out that it may cause:

• severe stomach pain
• severe headache
• dangerously high blood pressure
• uneven heart beats
• stunted growth
• breathing problems (isn't it what it's supposed to prevent?)
• swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat (again!!)
  
• convulsions
• seizures
• problems with vision
• severe depression
• bloody poop
• coughing up blood

Next time croup decides to stop by:

• we will not use the steroids
• we will use the humidifier as soon as we see first croup symptoms
• in case of the attack we'll dress K warmly and take her outside (cool air opens up the airways)
• we'll do our best to calm K down - crying causes more swelling in the throat

Last night was the first night since the midnight attack that K has slept through. But it was the second night that K has slept from 7.30pm to 10am! Somebody is catching up on her beauty sleep.

And, yesterday K finally started eating again. She had always been a great eater, so when after the croup attack she ate only a teaspoon of solids a day, I was freaking out.

I took her on a date to an Indian Restaurant yesterday, and she was basically inhaling food. I was so relieved to see it that I got all teared up and... hungry just watching her eat. After 4 days of dieting, K is back!!!