Croup

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Medical Author:

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

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Medical Editor:

Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

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• Croup Overview
• Croup Causes
• Croup Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Croup Diagnosis
• Croup Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Follow-up
• Croup Prevention
• Croup Prognosis
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Croup from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Croup - Symptoms

Croup Overview

Croup is caused by an acute viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is also called laryngotracheobronchitis since it affects the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. This infection results in inflammation, increased mucus production, and swelling of the upper airways. Although croup usually resolves on its own, between 5%-10% of children with croup will require admission to the hospital.

• Children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years of age are most likely to get croup. This common viral illness is estimated to occur annually in 3%-5% of children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years and is the most common cause of stridor (upper airway wheezing during inspiration) in this age group. Croup is rarely seen in adults because their larger breathing passages (trachea and larynx) can accommodate the inflammation without producing symptoms.
• Some children appear to be particularly prone to croup and have a number of infections. Boys are more prone than girls, with peak seasonal outbreaks in late fall and winter.
• Croup should be differentiated from more serious medical diagnoses, including acute epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, or an inhaled foreign body.