Croup

Alternative names:

acute laryngotracheobronchitis; viral croup

Symptoms:

• breathing difficulty
• barking, spasmodic cough
• high pitched sound on inspiration (stridor)
• rapid breathing
• skin discoloration, bluish caused by lack of oxygen
• increased use of neck and chest muscles (intercostal retractions)

Signs and tests:

An examination shows chest retractions with breathing. Listening to the chest through a stethoscope (auscultation of the breath sounds) reveals prolonged inspiration or expiration, wheezing, and decreased breath sounds. An examination of throat may reveal red epiglottis. A neck X-ray may reveal a foreign object or narrowing of the trachea.