2. Objectives - Goals
1. Diagnosis and Management of Croup
1. Review natural history of viral croup
2. Distinguish between and review evidence
of various treatment options
2. Determining need for outpatient vs
inpatient treatment
1. Develop a differential diagnosis
2. Review indications for hospitalization
3. Definition
“A generic term”
A heterogenous group of illnesses
affecting the larynx, trachea, and
bronchi
Viral origin
Characteristic cough, inspiratory
stridor, hoarseness
4. Epidemiology
Annual incidence: 6 cases per 100
children younger than 6yoa
Affects children 6mos-12yoa, peak
incidence at 2yoa
Boys:Girls 1.5:1
Fall and winter predominance
5. Cost
Leading cause of hospitalization in
children younger than 4yoa
$56 million annually
6. The Usual Suspects
Viral: Parainfluenza, Influenza A &
B, Adenovirus, RSV, rhinovirus,
enteroviruses, measles
Spasmodic: viral associated, possibly
allergic reaction to antigens
12. ACUTE EPIGLOTTITIS
First described in 1878 by Michel and labeled “angina
epiglottidea anterior”, epiglottitis, or more correctly
supraglottitis, represents a true airway emergency. It
is a bacterial cellulitis of the supraglottic structures,
most notably the lingual surface of the epiglottis, but
also affecting the aryepiglottic folds. As the
supraglottic edema increases, the epiglottis is forced
posteriorly causing progressive airway obstruction.
Supraglottitis tends to occur in patients aged 2 to 7
years old, but cases in patients under 1 year have
been reported
13. Haemophilus influenzae type B
(HIB) is the most commonly
implicated organism, but
group A, β-hemolytic
streptococcus, staphylococcus,
pneumococcus, klebsiella,
pseudomonas, candida and
viruses have been isolated as
well..
15. Supraglottitis
if suspected, diagnose by direct
laryngoscopy in OR
lateral neck film - “thumb sign”
1nasotracheal intubation
IV antibiotics
extubate when air leak noted -
usually within 48 hours
16. Epiglottitis Croup
Age Can occur in infants, older
children, or adults
Six months to six years
Onset Sudden Gradual
Location Supraglottic Subglottic
Temp High fever Low-grade fever
Dysphagia Severe Mild or absent
Dyspnea Present Present
Drooling Present Present
Cough Uncommon Characteristics cough
Position Sitting forward with mouth open Comfortable in different
positions
Radiology Positive thumb sign* Positive steeple sign
.
Comparison of the Features of Epiglottitis and Croup
17. Management: Steroids 1
1970 – the debate begins!
“With the battle won, what remains
are largely minor skirmishes
Nebulized vs oral vs IM
Inpatient vs outpatient
Dose
18. Management: Steroids 2
BMJ 1999, meta-analysis: Steroids
improve sx within 6hrs for up to 12hrs
Nebulized vs Oral: 1999 & 2004 RCTs,
equivalent; 2002 oral significantly better.
Oral vs IM: 2000 Randomized,
uncontrolled, equivalent
Dose: equivalent outcomes with 0.15/kg,
0.3/kg and 0.6/kg dexamethasone
19. Management: Steroids 3
Nebulized vs oral vs IM
For children with increased WOB
Might consider oral or IM over nebulized
Inpatient vs Outpatient
Either – depends on VS/PE
Dose
PO: 0.15mg/kg – lowest known effective
dose of dexamethasone
IM: 0.15-0.6mg/kg IM
20. Management: Epinephrine
For moderate to severe distress
5ml 1:1000 Nebulized racemic
epinephrine
Decreased stridor/retractions in
30min
Duration 2 hrs
Rebound phenomenon
Observe 3-4hrs after administration
Side effects: tachycardia, HTN
21. Case #1
T.T. is a 16mos baby who comes in
w/ his very worried mother.
Runny nose started 2 days ago
Temp 100.3 yesterday
Barking cough started this AM
Now making a horrible noise when he
takes a deep breath in
Refuses to lie down
22. Case # 1 Continued
VS: 99.8F 120 22 O2 sat 96% when quiet
Gen: alert, sitting in mother’s lap quietly when
you enter, sees you and starts to cry you note
inspiratory stridor
Ears: nl TMs
Nose: rhinnorhea
Mouth: no exudate, tonsils normal
Neck: cervical LAD
Chest: expiratory wheeze, inspiratory sounds
obscured, subcostal retractions worsened w/
crying
CV: RRR no murmur
Ext: 2+ cap refill, wwp
23. Case #1 – Follow-up
You decide to give T.T. a dose of
dexamethasone in the clinic at
0.3mg/kg
Advise mother to check in on him
during the night and gave warning
signs
Suggest taking him out into the air or
running a hot shower might help
24. Case #1a
T.T. returns to your clinic in 2 days.
His mother says that the cough is
tapering and he is sleeping better
through the night. However, he has
been tugging at his ear all day long
and complaining of pain.
PE: notable for a erythematous TM on
left w/ decreased mobility and
obscured landmarks
26. Summary
Croup is a common viral illness in
children
Treatment options include
Steroids – good evidence to support
Epinephrine – years of experience and
trials support its use
Mist – years of use/no data to support
Evidence supports outpatient
treatment in mild to moderate croup
56 mill = hospitalization costs
How can we change this? See treatments – steroids in o/p setting!
Parainflu: 75% of cases Next most frequent are the influenzas
Para and measles tend to cause the most severe forms but measles viruses only occassionally implicated
Differences betw spasmodic and viral: no viral prodrome, tends to recur, lasts only a few hours (vs days), can be fam hx or predisposition to RAD
Symptoms: worse at night, peak at 24-48 h, resolve w/I a week, stridor worse w/ agitation
Signs: probably most important is history
Steeple sign – appears in 50% of cases; narrowed subglottic space (PA) w/ overdistended hypopharynx (Lateral)
Laryngoscopy – suspected epiglottitis, frequent episodes, abnl voice betw episodes, children intubated as neonates
Serial obs=frequent exams if in-house
Mist tx: turning on shower in closed bathroom or taking child outside no evidence to support! One small study showed no difference in mod croup in ED,
may cool mucosa, cause vasoconstriction and decr edema
If hx and PE consistent - to OR for DL for diagnosis
MD capable of airway control with pt at all times
no intraoral exam, phlebotomy or other procedures that may upset child
sit in parents lap
x-rays if ? Dx and no resp distress - lat neck with thumb sign and hypopharyngeal over distention (loss of vallecular air space, thick epiglottis and AE folds)
normal subglottis on AP
Endoscopy as quickly as possible - always accompany pt
communication b/t endoscopist and anesthesiologist spontaneous ventilation - orotracheal intubate (anesthesia or Oto)
rigid telescope with ETT threaded over it, brochoscopes (age approppriate and size smaller), trach set-up
draw blood after airway secure - CBC and cultures
thorough endoscopy with cultures
NT intubation, IV abx (Amp/Chlor, Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime, Unasyn)
1999 – BMJ: steroids are effective in improving sx w/i 6hrs for up to 12hrs improved “croup score”, shorter hosp stay, less epinephrine use
Studies done in inpt/ED setting
Systematic review in 2000 in British Journal of Gen Practice: Nebulized Steroids are more effective than placebo
Nebulized vs oral – one study 199 pts, controlled trial, equivalent outcomes Second study: by Luria: Study of 264 pts, randomized, placebo-controlled trial – oral significantly better
Oral vs IM – 277 pts, uncontrolled clinical trial, equivalent outcomes
Dose – two studies, one shows equivalent outcomes w/ 0.15mg/kg, 0.3 and 0.6.The other showed better outcome vs placebo w/ 0.15mg/kg (one time dose)
No studies to evauate inhaled or IM dose
Epi decreases secretions and edema
Extension to other parts of the respiratory tract.