Respirology Search
Respirology Respirology
croup
CROUP
Croup is a viral infection that causes erythema and edema of the tracheal walls and narrowing of the subglottic region. It is often characterized by an acute, rapidly progressing respiratory disease.
It is a medical emergency in children and requiring immediate treatment.
Most common causes are parainfluenza virus 1&2 and respiratory syncytial virus.
Occurrence of symptoms is usually at night and with abrupt onset and improve during daytime.

Differential Diagnosis

Diphtheria
  • Characterized by malaise, sore throat, anorexia, & low-grade fever
  • Within 2-3 days, pharyngeal exam may show a typical gray-white membrane adherent to the tissue that bleeds when attempted to be removed
  • With insidious course but sudden respiratory obstruction may occur
Epiglottitis
  • Characterized by sudden onset of high fever, dysphagia, drooling & anxious appearance
  • Patient prefers to sit forward in sniffing position
  • Barking cough is rarely observed
Tracheitis
  • Patient appears febrile, toxic & gives poor response to Epinephrine
Other Causes of Stridor
  • Foreign body
  • Retropharyngeal abscess
  • Hereditary angioedema
Digital Edition
Asia's trusted medical magazine for healthcare professionals. Get your MIMS Respirology - Malaysia digital copy today!
Sign In To Download
Editor's Recommendations
Most Read Articles
Ivermectin improves survival in COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary involvement
21 Nov 2020
Ivermectin confers benefits in the treatment of COVID-19, with a recent study showing that its use helps reduce the risk of death especially in patients with severe pulmonary involvement.
COVID-19 vaccine: A saviour, at last?
Pearl Toh, 19 Dec 2020
With the release of the latest interim efficacy results for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, the adenovirus-vectored vaccine against COVID-19 is inching a step closer towards regulatory approval — and eventually, widespread use that will hopefully put an end to the relentless carnage by the pandemic.
Having asthma or allergy does not increase risk for severe COVID-19
Elvira Manzano, 12 Dec 2020
Having asthma or allergy does not make COVID-19 severe, a new study presented at ACAAI 2020 has shown.
Global race for COVID-19 vaccine gains momentum
Elvira Manzano, 04 Aug 2020
The global race for a COVID-19 vaccine moves at an unprecedented speed, buoyed by public pressure and geopolitical crosscurrents that were punctuated by deaths and infections around the world.