[Cortisol blood level in children with subglottic laryngitis (author's transl)]

Clinical observations have shown that fear of suffocation aggravates respiratory tract occlusion in children with subglottic laryngitis (s.l.). In similar situations of emotional stress, changes occur in the function of the adrenal glands. The author's observations lead to the conclusion that rapid intravenous injection of glucocorticoids results in the alleviation of symptoms endangering a child's life so that in a majority of cases a tracheotomy is no longer necessary. Cortisol blood level was estimated by the technique of de Moor as modified by Derech and Golebiowska. These levels were then determined in 20 children with s.l. not treated with glucocorticoids before hospitalization and 10 children in a control group. In children with s.l., high levels of cortisol were detected at the time of admission. In a few cases 100 microgram/100 ml. After symptoms of s.l. subsided, levels of cortisol resembled those of the control group as seen on primary examination. Administration of ACTH induced a more pronounced increase in cortisol level in children with s.l. than in children of the control group.