Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Epiglottitis, Croup, and Laryngitis

  • Chapter
Infections of the Head and Neck

Part of the book series: Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease ((CLIN.TOP.INFECT))

  • 152 Accesses

Abstract

Croup and “croup syndromes” are terms that have been applied to a number of clinical entities of respiratory tract infection causing upper airway obstruction secondary to inflammatory edema. Nomenclature and classification have been based on anatomic criteria with some obvious overlap (22), often resulting in a confusion of terms. Patients may have predominantly laryngeal involvement, and their illness is classified as laryngitis, although they occasionally have a “barking” cough suggestive of a subglottic process. In others, most of the inflammatory changes are in the sub-glottic area. Still other patients have tracheitis and/or bronchitis in addition to subglottic edema. Thus, the clinical entity of croup is derived from a group of infections that may involve the tracheobronchial tract from the larynx to the bronchi, and even the pulmonary parenchyma. Moreover, some authors use the term “laryngotracheobronchitis” to refer to croup (66), whereas others reserve this term as a specific description of patients with bacterial or viral tracheitis superimposed on laryngotracheitis (14). To further confuse matters, pediatric textbooks frequently include epiglottitis (supraglottitis) in discussions of croup-like illnesses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Addy MG, Ellis PDM, Turk DC: Haemophilus epiglottitis: nine cases in Oxford. Br Med J 1972; 1:40–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Asher MI, Beaudry PH: Croup and corticosteroid therapy. J Pediatr 1981; 98:506.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Barker GA: Current management of croup and epiglottitis. Pediatr Clin North Am 1979; 26:565–579.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bass JW, Steele RW, Wiebe RA: Acute epiglottitis. A surgical emergency. JAMA 1974; 229:671–675.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bates JR: Epiglottitis: diagnosis and treatment. Pediatr Rev 1979; 1:173–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Baugh R, Baker SR: Epiglottitis in children: review of 24 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1982; 90:157–162.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Baxter JD: Acute epiglottitis in children. Laryngoscope 1967; 77:1358–1367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Boster SR, Martinez SA: Acute upper airway obstruction in the adult. 1. Causative disease processes. Postgrad Med 1982; 72:50–57.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Boster SR, Martinez SA: Acute upper airway obstruction in the adult. 2. Causative events. Postgrad Med 1982; 72:58–60.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Broniatowski M: Epiglottitis. Ear Nose Throat J 1985; 64:22–27.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Brooks GF: Recent trends in diphtheria in the United States. J Infect Dis 1969; 120:500–502.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Campbell LR, Zedd AJ, Michaels RH: Household spread of infection due to Haemophilus influenzae type b. Pediatrics 1980; 66:115–117.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Centers for Disease Control: Polysaccharide vaccine for the prevention of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease. MMWR 1985; 34:201–205.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cherry JD: The treatment of croup: continued controversy due to failure of recognition of historic, ecologic, etiologic, and clinical perspectives. J Pediatr 1979; 94:352–354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cherry JD: Croup, in Feigin RD, Cherry JD (eds): Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1981, pp. 146–155.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cherry JD: Invasive Hemophilus infections: epiglottitis and cellulitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 90(suppl 1981; 83):19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Clark WD, Baily BJ, Clegg TJ: Epiglottitis and laryngotracheobronchitis. Am Earn Physician 1983; 28:189–194.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics: Redbook report. Evanston IL, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1982, pp. 11–12.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cooke RPD, Thompson RG, Barter DAC: Salmonellosis presenting as croup. Lancet 1985; i:523.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Daum RS, Bates JR, Smith AL: Epiglottitis (supra-glottitis), in Feigin RD, Cherry JD (eds): Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, WB Saunders 1981, pp. 138–145.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Davies NE, Davies GH, Sanders ED: William Cobbett, Benjamin Rush, and the death of George Washington. JAMA 1983; 249:912–915.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Davis HW, Gartner JC, Galvis AG, Michaels RH, Mestad PH: Acute upper airway obstruction: croup and epiglottitis. Pediatr Clin North Am 1981; 28:859–880.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Davison FW: Acute laryngeal obstruction in children. JAMA 1959; 171:1301–1305.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Deeb ZE, Yenson AC, DeFries HO: Acute epiglottitis in the adult. Laryngoscope 1985; 95:289–291.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Denny FW, Murphy TF, Clyde WA Jr, Collier AM, Henderson FW: Croup: an 11-year study in a pediatric practice. Pediatrics 1983; 71:871–876.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Downey JJ, Kane LA, Second LC: Nasotracheal intubation in infants and children. NY State J Med 1972; 72:252.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Editorial: Recurrent croup and allergy. Lancet 1981; ii: 1150–1151.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Fulginiti VA: Infections associated with upper airway obstructive findings. Pediatr Infect Dis 1983; 2:S33-S36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Guillozet N, Barclay AM: Obstructive epiglottitis in adults. J Earn Pract 1982; 15:895–897.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gwaltney M: Acute laryngitis, in Mandell GL, Douglas RG, Bennett JE (eds): Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. New York, J Wiley Sons, 1979, pp. 441–442.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hall CB, McBride JT: Upper respiratory tract infections, in Pennington JE (ed): Respiratory Infections: Diagnosis and Management. New York, Raven Press. 1983, pp. 79–95.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Handler SD, Plotkin SA, Potsic WP, Downes JJ Jr: Hemophilus influenzae epiglottitis occurring concurrently in two siblings. Clin Pediatr 1982; 21:634–635.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Henry R: Moist air in the treatment of laryngotra-cheitis. Arch Dis Child 1983; 58:577.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Hurly RM, Kearns JR: Pulmonary edema and croup. Pediatrics 1980; 65:860.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Jones HM: Acute epiglottitis: a personal study over twenty years. Proc R Soc Med 1970; 63:706–712.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Jones HM, Camps FE: Acute epiglottitis. Practitioner 1957; 178:223–229.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Jones JL, Holland P: False positives in lateral neck radiographs used to diagnose epiglottitis, (letter) Ann Emerg Med 1983; 12:797.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Koren G, Frand M, Barzilay Z, MacLeod SM: Corticosteroid treatment of laryngotracheitis v spasmodic croup in children. Am J Dis Child 1983; 137:941–944.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. La Scolea LJ Jr, Rosales SV, Welliver RC, Ogra PL: Mechanisms underlying the development of meningitis or epiglottitis in children afterHaemophilus influenzae type b bacteremia. J Infect Dis 1985; 151:1162–1165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. LeMierre A, Meyer A, Laplane R: Les septicemics a bacille de Pfeiffer. Ann de Med 1936; 39:94–97.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Levison H, Tabachnik E, Newth CJL: Wheezing in infancy, croup, and epiglottitis. Curr Probl Pediatr 1982; 12:38–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Lewis JK, Galvis AG, Michaels RH: Occurrence of Haemophilus epiglottitis. Am J Dis Child 1978; 132:424–426.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Liston SL, Gehrz RC, Siegel LG, Tilelli J: Bacterial tracheitis. Am J Dis Child 1983; 137:764–767.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Margolis CZ, Ingram DC, Meyer JH: Routine tracheostomy in Haemophilus influenzae type B epiglottitis. J Pediatr 1972; 81:1150–1153.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Marks MI, Laferriere CI: Chloramphenicol: properties and clinical use, in Nelson JD, McCracken GH (eds): Clinical Reviews in Pediatric Infectious Disease. Toronto, BC Decker, 1985, pp. 97–106.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Miller BR, Arthur JD, Parry WH, Perez TR, Mos-man PL: Atypical croup and Chlamydia trachomatis. Lancet 1982; i:1022.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Mills JL, Spackman TJ, Borns P, Mandell GA, Schwartz MW: The usefulness of lateral neck roentgenograms in laryngotracheobronchitis. Am J Dis Child 1979; 133:1140–1142.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Molenti RA: Epiglottitis: incidence of extraepiglottic infection. Report of 72 cases and review of the literature. Pediatrics 1976; 58:526–531.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Newth CJL, Levison H, Bryan AC: The respiratory status of children with croup. J Pediatr 1972; 81:1068–1073.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Nigro G, Midulla M: Acute laryngitis associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis. J Infect 1983; 7:81–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Norden CW, Michaels RH: Immunology response in patients with epiglottitis caused by Haemophilus influenza type b. J Infect Dis 1973; 128:777–783.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Nussbaum E: Fiberoptic laryngoscopy as a guide to tracheal extubation in acute epiglottitis. J Pediatr 1983; 102:269–270.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Peltola H: C-reactive protein in rapid differentiation of acute epiglottitis from spasmodic croup and laryngotracheitis. J Pediatr 1983; 102:713–715.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Rapkin RH: Simultaneous uvulitis and epiglottitis. JAMA 1980; 243:1843.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Rothstein P, Lister G: Epiglottitis-duration of intubation and fever. Anesth Analg 1983; 62:785–787.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Sarant G: Acute epiglottitis in adults. Ann Emerg Med 1981; 10:58–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Scheidemandel HHE: Did George Washington die of quinsy? Arch Otolaryngol 1976; 102:519–521.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Schuller DE, Birch HG: The safety of intubation in croup and epiglottitis: an eight-year follow-up. Laryngoscope 1975; 85:33–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Schwartz RH, Knerr RJ, Hermansen K, Wientzen RL: Acute epiglottitis caused by b-hemolytic group C Streptococci. Am J Dis Child 1979; 136:558–559.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Shackelford GD, Siegel MJ, McAlister WH: Subglottic edema in acute epiglottitis in children. AJR 1978; 131:603–605.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Sinclair SE: Haemophilus influenzae type b in acute laryngitis with bacteremia. JAMA 1941; 117:170–173.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Small P, Frenkiel S: Hereditary angioneurotic edema first observed as an epiglottiditis. Arch Otolaryngol 1983; 109:195–196.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Smith RM: Nasotracheal intubation as a substitute for tracheostomy. Pediatrics 1966; 38:652–654.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Stephens DS, Walker DH, Schaffner W, Kaplowitz LG, Brashear HR, Roberts R, Spickard WA Jr: Pseudodiphtheria: prominent pharyngeal membrane associated with fatal paraquat ingestion. Ann Intern Med 1981; 94:202–204.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Tarnow-Mordi WO, Berrill AM, Darby CW, Davis P, Pook J: Precipitation of laryngeal obstruction in acute epiglottitis. Br Med J 1985; 290:629.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Taussig LM, Castro O, Beaudry PH, Fox WW, Bureau M: Treatment of laryngotracheobronchitis (croup). Am J Dis Child 1975; 129:790–793.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Theisen CF: Angina epiglottidea anterior: Report of three cases. Albany Med Ann 1900; 21:395–405.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Travis KW, Todres ID, Shannon DC: Pulmonary edema associated with croup and epiglottitis. Pediatrics 1977; 59:695–698.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Vetto RR: Epiglottitis: a report of thirty-seven cases. JAMA 1960; 173:990–994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Ward PH, Berci G: Observations on the pathogenesis of chronic nonspecific pharyngitis and laryngitis. Laryngoscope 1982; 92:1377–1382.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Wolf IJ: Allergic factors in the etiology of spasmodic croup and laryngitis. Ann Allergy 1966; 27:9–13.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Yonkers AJ: Candidiasis of the larynx. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1973; 82:812.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Zach M, Erben A, Olinski A: Croup, recurrent croup, allergy, and airways hyperactivity. Arch Dis Child 1981; 56:336–341.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Zach M, Messner H: Serum IgA in recurrent croup. Am J Dis Child 1983; 137:184–185.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Zalma VM, Older JJ, Brooks GF: The Austin, Texas, diphtheria outbreak. Clinical and epidemiological aspects. JAMA 1970; 211:2125–2129.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Michael J. Muszynski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Melvin I. Marks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

David Schlossberg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Muszynski, M.J., Marks, M.I. (1987). Epiglottitis, Croup, and Laryngitis. In: Schlossberg, D. (eds) Infections of the Head and Neck. Clinical Topics in Infectious Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4640-4_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4640-4_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9095-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4640-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation