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Croup (also called laryngotracheobronchitis) is a disease which afflicts infants and young children, typically aged between 3 months and 5 years. It is characterized by a harsh 'barking' cough, inspiratory stridor and fever.
It is most often caused by parainfluenza virus, but other viral and bacterial infections can also cause it. It is the body's reaction to the infection that causes the respiratory distress, not the infection itself. It usually occurs in young children as their airways are smaller and different shaped to adults, making them more susceptible. There is some element of genetic predisposition as children in some families are more susceptible than others.
The 'barking' cough of croup is diagnostic. Treatment of croup depends on the severity encountered. Mild croup with no stridor and just the cough may just be watched or a small dose of inhaled or oral steroids may be given. Moderate to severe croup may require airway intervention and oxygen supplementation in addition to steroids, depending on the amount of respiratory distress. Adrenaline may also be given in cases of severe croup, either via nebuliser or injected intramuscularly or intravenously. In diagnosing croup, it is important for the physician to consider and exclude other causes of shortness of breath.
The word may also refer to the rump of a quadruped (see croupier).
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