Croup (Paediatric Guidelines)

TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
NHS Highland

Audience

  • HHSCP
  • Primary & secondary care
  • Paediatrics only

Croup management algorithm

Notes

  • Dexamethasone tablets can be dispersed in 10mL of water for ease of administration in children.
    Place the tablet in an oral syringe and draw up 10mL water.
    Allow to disperse and administer.
  • Dexamethasone oral solution (2mg/5mL) (non-formulary) can be used to make up doses that are not whole tablet equivalents.
  • If for any reason dexamethasone is not available, use prednisolone 1mg/kg once daily for 2 days. 
  • A single dose of prednisolone (1mg/kg) is not as effective as a single dose of dexamethasone for the treatment of croup. Therefore, if using prednisolone as treatment for croup, a second dose is recommended.
  • If prednisolone is already given by GP and child has mild croup in Emergency Department (ED) may not need second dose, but if child has signs of moderate croup consider giving second dose prednisolone 1mg/kg.

What is Croup?

Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis) is a common childhood respiratory illness characterised by sudden onset of a seal-like barking cough, often accompanied by stridor, voice hoarseness, and respiratory distress. The symptoms are a result of inflammation and narrowing of the subglottic region of the larynx, as a result of viral infection (Typically parainfluenza virus types 1 or 3). 

It most commonly affects children between 6 months and 6 years of age, with a peak incidence during the second year of life. Boys are slightly more commonly affected than girls, with a ratio of around 1.4 to 1. 

What is the prognosis?

  • Mild croup tends to be self-limiting, even without treatment, with shorter time to resolution with dexamethasone treatment.
  • In most cases of moderate croup, the symptoms resolve without significant complications.
  • With dexamethasone and nebulised epinephrine combination treatment, the prognosis for severe croup is excellent.
  • Severe upper airway obstruction can, rarely, lead to respiratory failure and arrest. In children with impending respiratory failure, intubation is required in 1% to 3% of cases. 
  • Death from croup is rare, occurring in no more than 1 in every 30,000 cases. 

When should I suspect croup?

  • Stridor
  • Seal-like barking cough
  • Hoarseness
  • Respiratory distress +/- Fever +/- Coryza

The symptoms are typically worse at night and increase with agitation. A minimally invasive hands-off approach allows for the best initial assessment, as children can look very different if allowed to settle for a few minutes. 

Differential diagnoses

When seeing an unwell child with cough and stridor, it is important to consider the differential diagnoses, which include:

  • Acute foreign body aspiration:
    Suspect in a person with sudden onset dyspnoea and stridor, usually a clear history of foreign body inhalation or ingestion, no prodrome or symptoms of viral illness, and no fever (unless secondary infection).
  • Acute anaphylaxis:
    Suspect in a person with acute swelling of the upper airway that may cause dyspnoea and stridor. Fever is uncommon. Swelling of face, tongue, or pharynx may be present. Can occur at any age.
  • Bacterial upper airway infections: eg. epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis.
    • Bacterial tracheitis
      An infection of the tracheal mucosa (usually Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococci) which results in copious secretions and mucosal necrosis. The child often appears very unwell (they look septic, or ‘toxic’) with high fever, croupy cough and signs of progressive upper airway obstruction. The croupy cough and absence of drooling help to distinguish from epiglottitis. Treatment involves securing the airway (over 80% of children with this condition will need intubation) and IV antibiotics (cefotaxime and flucloxacillin).
    • Epiglottitis
      This is caused by Haemophilus influenzae B (reduced incidence after Hib vaccine) or Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, with resultant intense swelling of the epiglottis and surrounding tissues leading to airway obstruction. The onset is usually acute with a few hours of high fever, lethargy, soft inspiratory stridor and rapidly worsening respiratory distress. Cough is usually minimal or absent. The child appears toxic with a high fever and is often sitting immobile with their chin slightly lifted and mouth open drooling saliva. Attempts to lie the child down or painful procedures can precipitate complete upper airway obstruction and so should ideally only be done when the airway has been secured. Treatment involves urgent PICU review for airway assessment and management, bloods for culture and IV cefotaxime.

Differentiation between croup, tracheitis and epiglottitis 

 

Croup

Tracheitis

Epiglottitis

Cause

Viral

Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus

Haemophilus influenzae B

Age

6 months to 6 years

Any age

2 to 6 years

Onset

Gradual

Gradual

Sudden

Pyrexia

Mild

Over 38°C

Over 38°C

Abnormal sounds

Barking cough, stridor

Barking cough, stridor

Muffled, guttural cough

Swallowing

Normal

Difficult

Very difficult with drooling

Posture

Recumbent

Sitting

Tripod position

Facies

Normal

Anxious

Anxious, distressed, toxaemic

When to consider admission to the Highland Children's Unit (HCU)

  • In Raigmore, children with features of severe croup should be reviewed in resus by the paediatric registrar or paediatric consultant before admission to the HCU.
  • Children with impending respiratory failure should be reviewed by anaesthetics and the paediatric consultant.
  • Admit children with moderate illness who, after a period of 1 to 2 hours observation after dexamethasone, still have increased work of breathing or stridor at rest.
  • Hospital admission should also be considered for children with a respiratory rate of over 60 breaths/minute or who have a high fever or 'toxic' appearance.
  • Children with mild illness may require admission if they have factors that warrant a lower threshold for admission, such as:
    • Chronic lung disease
    • Haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease
    • Neuromuscular disorders
    • Immunodeficiency
    • Inadequate fluid intake (50 to 75% of usual volume, or no wet nappy for 12 hours)
    • Factors that might affect a carer's ability to look after a child with croup, such as:
      • adverse social circumstances, or
      • concerns about the skill and confidence of the carer in looking after a child with croup at home, or the carer being able to spot deteriorating symptoms.
      • Living a long distance from the hospital

 

References

Abbreviations

  • ED Emergency Department
  • HCU High Care Unit
  • PICU Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 01/10/2024

Next review date: 29/10/2027

Author(s): Paediatrics.

Version: 1.1

Approved By: TAM Subgroup of ADTC

Reviewer name(s): Dr S Henderson, Consultant Paediatrician.

Document Id: TAM332