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Acute subglottic laryngitis. Etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical picture
Henryk Mazurek1,2, Anna Bręborowicz3, Zbigniew Doniec4
1Department of Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Institute of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases, Rabka-Zdrój, Poland. hmazurek@igrabka.edu.pl.
Insights
Acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL) affects 3% of children, causing airway narrowing due to viral infections. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs like barking cough and stridor, distinguishing it from rarer conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Viral airway infections in early childhood can cause subglottic narrowing.
- This condition, known as acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL), presents with hoarseness, barking cough, stridor, and dyspnea.
- Severe cases of ASL may lead to respiratory failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical criteria for diagnosing acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL).
- To differentiate ASL from other potential causes of upper airway obstruction in children.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis of ASL is based on established clinical criteria.
- Differential diagnosis considers conditions like epiglottitis, diphtheria, fibrinous laryngitis, and bacterial tracheobronchitis.
Main Results:
- Acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL) is identified in approximately 3% of children.
- Clinical presentation includes hoarseness, barking cough, stridor, and dyspnea.
- The diagnosis of ASL is primarily clinical.
Conclusions:
- Acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL) is a common complication of viral respiratory infections in young children.
- Clinical assessment is sufficient for diagnosing ASL, differentiating it from other serious airway conditions.
Abstract:
In about 3% of children, viral infections of the airways that develop in early childhood lead to narrowing of the laryngeal lumen in the subglottic region resulting in symptoms such as hoarseness, abarking cough, stridor, and dyspnea. These infections may eventually cause respiratory failure. The disease is often called acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL). Terms such as pseudocroup, croup syndrome, acute obstructive laryngitis and spasmodic croup are used interchangeably when referencing this disease. Although the differential diagnosis should include other rare diseases such as epiglottitis, diphtheria, fibrinous laryngitis and bacterial tracheobronchitis, the diagnosis of ASL should always be made on the basis of clinical criteria.
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