[Are there risk factors for stenosing laryngitis? Results of the Southern Bavaria pseudo-croup study]

We tried to find a correlation between elevated air pollution levels and incidences of laryngitis (pseudocroup). Clinical data-obtained by questionnaire-from 418 children with laryngitis, viral shedding in rhinal secretion and data on air pollution as SO2, NO2 and dust levels were compared via correlation analyses. Boys with allergic diathesis and with signs for bronchial hyperreactivity were identified as a high risk group. The high incidence of laryngitis especially seen in the month of October could be explained by the increased number of RSV positive patients. There was no significant correlation between laryngitis and the air pollution levels during the time of observation.