Croup
Background
- Croup = laryngotracheobronchitis
- Affects 6 mo-3 yr (peak in 2nd year)
- Fall & winter
- Etiology
- Parainfluenza (50%), RSV, rhinovirus
- Consider Diphtheria if not immunized
- Parainfluenza (50%), RSV, rhinovirus
- Spasmodic croup
- Sudden onset of barking cough/stridor
- No viral prodrome, unlike standard croup
- Difficult to differentiate from croup
- Must rule-out foreign body
Diagnosis
- 1-2 day of URI followed by barking cough, stridor
- Low-grade fever
- NO drooling or dysphagia
- Duration = 3-7d, most severe on days 3-4
Croup Score
- Inspiratory stridor
- None (0 points)
- When agitated (1 points)
- On/off at rest (2 points)
- Continuous at rest (3 points)
- Retractions
- None (0 points)
- Mild (1 points)
- Moderate (2 points)
- Severe (3 points)
- Air entry
- Normal (0 points)
- Decreased (1 points)
- Moderately decreased (2 points)
- Severely decreased (3 points)
- Cyanosis
- None (0 points)
- When crying (2 points)
- At rest (3 points)
- Alertness
- Alert (0 points)
- Restless, anxious (2 points)
- Depressed (3 points)
Assessment
- <2 Very mild
- 2-9 Mild to moderately severe
- >9 Severe croup
Work-Up
- Consider CXR if concerned about alternative dx
- Steeple sign on AP (not Sp, not Sn)
- Consider nasal washings for RSV, parainfluenza, influenza.
Treatment
- Cool mist
- Steroids
- Give to all pts with croup
- Dexamethasone 0.15-0.6mg/kg PO/IM (max 10mg)
- Give to all pts with croup
- Epinephrine (nebulized)
- Give for moderate-severe cases
- Racemic epinephrine decreases the need for intubation, and should be tried before intubation.
- Do NOT give albuterol (may worsen edema (vasodilation))
- Intubation rarely needed
- Use one half size smaller tube if intubating
Disposition
- Consider discharge if:
- 3hr since last epinephrine
- Able to tolerate PO
- Nontoxic appearance
- Admit:
- Persistent respiratory sx/signs
- ≥2 tx with epinephrine
External Links
See Also
Source
- Tintinalli
- Rosen