Croup overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Croup is a respiratory disease which afflicts infants and young children, typically aged between 3 months and 3 years. The respiratory symptoms are caused by inflammation of the larynx and upper airway, with resultant narrowing of the airway.
Historical Perspective
The word croup comes from the early modern english verb croup, meaning "to cry hoarsely"; the name was first applied to the disease in Scotland and popularized in the 18th century.[1] Diphtheritic croup has been known since the time of Homer's Ancient Greece and it was not until 1826 that viral croup was differentiated from croup due to diphtheria by Bretonneau.[2] Viral croup was then called "faux-croup" by the French, as "croup" then referred to a disease caused by the diphtheria bacteria. Croup due to diphtheria has become nearly unknown due to the advent of effective immunization.
Pathophysiology
The viral infection that causes croup leads to swelling of the larynx, trachea, and large bronchi due to infiltration of white blood cells (especially histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils). Swelling produces airway obstruction which, when significant, leads to dramatically increased work of breathing and the characteristic turbulent, noisy airflow known as stridor.
Causes
Croup is most often caused by parainfluenza virus, primarily types 1 and 3, but other viral and possibly bacterial infections can also cause it.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Croup is most often caused by parainfluenza virus, primarily types 1 and 3, but other viral and possibly bacterial infections can also cause it. It is most common in the fall and winter but can occur year-round, with a slight predilection for males.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Viral croup is a self-limited disease, symptoms lasting up to 7 days. It can very rarely result in death from complete airway obstruction.
References
- ↑ Online Etymological Dictionary, croup. Accessed 2010-09-13.
- ↑ Feigin, Ralph D. (2004). Textbook of pediatric infectious diseases. Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 252. ISBN 0-7216-9329-6.