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Croup and Epiglottitis
Mark Shlomovich1, Sara Hyatt1, Gina N Cassel-Choudhury1
1Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Insights
Croup is a common pediatric illness, while epiglottitis, though less common, historically had high mortality. This review defines both conditions, covering their causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Croup is a frequent pediatric respiratory illness, ranging from mild to severe.
- Epiglottitis, a historically severe condition, shows declining incidence and affects older patients more frequently.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define croup and epiglottitis.
- To describe the epidemiology, etiologies, differential diagnoses, pathogenesis, and management of croup and epiglottitis.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article.
- Literature review on croup and epiglottitis.
Main Results:
- Croup presents with varying severity, often self-limiting but sometimes requiring hospitalization.
- Epiglottitis incidence has decreased, with a trend toward older patient populations.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the distinct features of croup and epiglottitis is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview for clinicians managing these pediatric respiratory conditions.
Abstract:
Croup is a common pediatric illness with varying levels of severity. In its mild form, it is a benign, self-limiting illness that requires supportive care. Severe cases require acute medical intervention and may require hospitalization. On the other hand, epiglottitis is a disease that historically had high mortality rates. Recent epidemiologic data have shown a decrease in the incidence of epiglottitis with a shift toward older patients. In this review, we aim to define croup and epiglottitis and describe their epidemiology, etiologies, differential diagnoses, pathogenesis, and management approaches.
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