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VIII.30 - Croup

from Part VIII - Major Human Diseases Past and Present

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

Kenneth F. Kiple
Affiliation:
Bowling Green State University, Ohio
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Summary

The term croup is used in an inclusive way to identify several different respiratory illnesses of children manifested by varying degrees of inspiratory stridor, cough, and hoarseness due to upper-airway obstruction. Classically croup was a manifestation of diphtheria. In the twentieth century, many other infectious causes of croup syndromes are recognized, and in addition, similar illnesses can be caused by noninfectious processes.

A classification of crouplike illnesses is presented in Table VIII.30.1. Although long-term obstruction in the glottic and subglottic regions can lead to chronic illnesses, croup syndromes are described here as acute self-limited or fatal illnesses. Most cases of croup today are either laryngotracheitis or spasmodic croup.

Etiology

Acute epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis) is virtually always caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B; rare cases have been due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Laryngitis is usually due to the common respiratory viral agents, the most important of which are adenoviruses and influenza viruses.

Laryngotracheitis and spasmodic croup are common illnesses in children and are due to viruses or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The most important agent is parainfluenza virus type 1. This virus, as well as parainfluenza type 2 and influenza A and B viruses, results in outbreaks of disease. In areas of the world where diphtheria toxoid immunization is not carried out, laryngotracheitis is also caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria.

Laryngotracheobronchitis and laryngotracheobronchiopneumonitis are frequently caused by the same viruses that cause laryngotracheitis. These two illnesses are caused also by S. aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1993

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References

Bouchut, E. 1859. Bouchut on croup. In Memoirs on diphtheria, ed. Semple, Robert Hunter. London.Google Scholar
Cherry, James D. 1981. Acute epiglottitis, laryngitis, and croup. In Current clinical topics in infectious diseases, ed. Remington, J. S. and Swartz, M. N.. New York.Google Scholar
Cherry, James D. 1987. Croup (laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, spasmodic croup, and laryngotracheobronchitis). In Textbook of pediatric infectious diseases, Vol. II, ed. Feigin, R. D. and Cherry, J. D.. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Cramblett, Henry G. 1960. Croup – present day concept. Pediatrics 25.Google ScholarPubMed
Davison, Francis W. 1950. Acute obstructive laryngitis in children. Pennsylvania Medical Journal 53.Google Scholar
Gittins, T. R. 1932. Laryngitis and tracheobronchitis in children: Special reference to non-diphtheritic infections. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Larynology 41.Google Scholar
Guersant, . 1959. Guersant on croup. In Memoirs on diphtheria, ed. Semple, Robert Hunter. London.Google Scholar
Home, Francis. 1765. An inquiry into the nature, cause and cure of the croup. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Jacobi, A. 1880. A treatise on diphtheria. New York.Google Scholar
Mortimer, Edward A. 1988. Diphtheria toxoid. In Vaccines, ed. , S. A. Plotkin and Mortimer, E. A.. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Nelson, Waldo E. 1950. Acute spasmodic laryngitis. In Textbook of pediatrics, ed. Nelson, Waldo E.. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Nelson, Waldo E. 1959. Acute laryngotracheobronchitis. In Textbook of pediatrics, ed. Nelson, Waldo E.. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Nelson, Waldo E. 1984. Bacterial croup: A historical perspective. Journal of Pediatrics :.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rabe, Edward F. 1948a. Infectious croup: I. Etiology. Pediatrics 2.Google Scholar
Rabe, Edward F. 1948b. Infectious croup: II. “Virus” croup. Pediatrics 2.Google Scholar
Sanné, A. 1887. A treatise on diphtheria. St. Louis.Google Scholar
Slade, Daniel D. 1864. Diphtheria: Its nature and treatment. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Top, Franklin H. 1964. Diphtheria. In Communicable and infectious diseases, ed. Top, F. H.. Saint Louis.Google ScholarPubMed

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  • Croup
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.092
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  • Croup
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.092
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Croup
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.092
Available formats
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