Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2017 Sep;5(5):274-279. 10.4168/aard.2017.5.5.274.

Comparison of etiology and clinical presentation between children with laryngotracheobronchopneumonitis and croup

• Kim EJ
• Nam H
• Sun YH
• Tchah H
• Ryoo E
• Cho HK
• Cho HJ
• Son DW

• KMID: 2392403
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2017.5.5.274

Abstract

PURPOSE
Croup, a common childhood respiratory illness with various severities, has many unanswered questions. Laryngotracheobronchopneumonitis (LTBP) is a disease entity considered to be an extension of croup to the lower respiratory tract. The object of this study was to compare epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and viral etiologic spectrum between croup and LTBP.
METHODS
Patients hospitalized with croup at Gachon University Gil Hospital from January 2010 to April 2016 were recruited. LTBP was defined as pneumonia confirmed on radiographs of patients with croup. Clinical findings and demographic data were reviewed of patients whose nasopharyngeal swabs were done for viral analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 371 patients with only croup and 63 patients with LTBP were included. Croup was found to be significantly associated with parainfluenza virus type 1 (P=0.006). LTBP was related to parainfluenza virus type 3, respiratory syncytial virus, and human bocavirus (P=0.001, P=0.030, and P=0.019, respectively). The duration of fever was longer in patients with LTBP than in those with croup (3.87±1.85 days vs. 2.86±1.80 days, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Specific etiologic viruses might be associated with the progression from croup to LTBP. Pronged fever is also associated with progression from croup to LTBP.

Keyword

Croup; Extension; Pneumonia

MeSH Terms

Child*
Croup*
Epidemiology
Fever
Human bocavirus
Humans
Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human
Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human
Pneumonia
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Respiratory System

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Distribution of etiologic agents of hospitalized pediatric patients with croup (A) and laryngotracheobronchopneumonitis (B).

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