Reducing Croup Severity Cuts Hospital Readmission – MM1606
Croup is characterised by the abrupt onset, most commonly at night, of a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness and respiratory distress due to upper airway obstruction and must be differentiated from acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, or an inhaled foreign body. Croup affects about 3% of children a year, usually between the ages of six months and three years and 75% of infections are caused by Parainfluenza virus. Symptoms usually resolve within 48 hours. Severe infection rarely leads to pneumonia or to respiratory failure and arrest.
Modern Medicine – June 2016
