The most common form of croup is acute laryngotracheobronchitis or viral croup, an infection of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. A
reactive inflammatory response causes subglottic edema
. Narrowing of the airway can be life threatening in infants and young children because of their small airway.
Is croup subglottic or supraglottic?
| Croup ( subglottic laryngitis ; laryngotracheitis) Epiglottitis ( supraglottic laryngitis ) | Voice Hoarse Muffled | Difficulty swallowing/drooling Absent Present | X-ray findings Steeple sign ( subglottic narrowing on chest x-ray ) Thumbprint sign (thickening of epiglottis on lateral neck x-ray ) |
|---|
Can croup cause subglottic stenosis?
Subglottic narrowing, called a “
steeple sign
,” was more common in adults. Among the 12 adult cases reporting chest radiograph findings, 92% had a steeple sign, as compared to 26% of pediatric croup cases.
What virus is responsible for croup?
Parainfluenza viruses
are the most common cause of croup; however, other causes including epiglottitis and bacterial tracheitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Is croup classified?
The most commonly used system for classifying the severity of croup is the
Westley score ranging from 0 to 17 points divided by five factors
: stridor, retractions, cyanosis, level of consciousness, and air entry. Westley score less than or equal to 2 indicates mild croup.
Can croup damage your lungs?
A secondary infection can sometimes develop following the initial viral infection that caused croup. A secondary infection can potentially cause: pneumonia, a chest infection which causes swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs.
Why is it called croup?
Historically, croup referred to
a spasmodic type of cough
, with the sudden onset of a barking cough in the middle of the night in a child about two years of age who had been well at bedtime the previous evening. In French, this condition was called ‘faux-croup’ because the word ‘croup’ referred to diphtheria.
What is the most common cause of croup?
A virus
is the most common cause of croup. But the illness may also be caused by bacteria, allergies, or reflux from the stomach. Viruses that are known to cause croup are: Parainfluenza virus.
Can subglottic stenosis get worse?
The noisy breathing that characterizes stridor can resemble (and is often mistaken for) wheezing. These symptoms often lead affected individuals to be misdiagnosed with asthma and can result in a delay in diagnosis.
Stridor can become progressively worse over time
.
What are the complications of croup?
- Fast or difficult breathing.
- Stridor.
- Decreased activity and lethargy.
- Poor feeding with signs of dehydration.
- Drooling or difficulty swallowing.
- Blue or grey skin around the nose, mouth or fingernails.
What triggers croup?
Croup is usually caused by a viral infection, most often a parainfluenza virus. Your child may contract a virus by
breathing infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into
the air. Virus particles in these droplets may also survive on toys and other surfaces.
Can the croup turn into pneumonia?
Symptoms are most severe in children younger than age three. Croup may last from five to six days, depending on the severity of the infection. Croup can lead to other complications too, such as ear infection, respiratory distress or pneumonia.
What is the best thing to do for croup?
- Stay calm. Comfort or distract your child — cuddle, read a book or play a quiet game. …
- Provide humidified or cool air. …
- Hold your child in a comfortable upright position. …
- Offer fluids. …
- Encourage rest. …
- Try a fever reducer. …
- Skip the cold medicines.
What is another name for croup?
Croup is a common, primarily pediatric viral respiratory tract illness. As its alternative names,
acute laryngotracheitis and acute laryngotracheobronchitis
, indicate, croup generally affects the larynx and trachea, although this illness may also extend to the bronchi.
Can croup turn into bacterial?
Bacterial croup is caused
by a bacterial infection
. This type is much rarer than viral croup and can be divided into bacterial tracheitis, laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB), laryngotracheobronchopneumonitis (LTBP), and laryngeal diphtheria.
What is false croup?
False croup is often
a symptom of a virus infection in the upper airways with a swelling around the vocal chords and mucosa of the throat
. The most typical symptom is a cough which sounds like the bark of a sea lion. The condition is most common in children between the age of 6 months to 5 years.
