Laryngotracheobronchitis in hospitalized children: Clinical features

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngotracheobronchitis or croup is a frequent respiratory condition in children younger than 5 years-old, although there are few studies published in national literature. 

Objective: Characterise croup episodes in our institution. 

Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study during 2001-2003.

Results: 78 children were admitted during this period, identifying 72 croup events. Most patients were admitted in autumn (65%), 62% were males and the mean age was 16,5 months, with 80% cases younger than 2 years-old. Symptoms prior admission had a mean duration of 2 days (interval 1-10), presenting stridor (85%), barking cough (78%) and fever (72%). Mean hospitalization was one day (interval 1-11). Parainfluenza virus was identified in half of 23 indirect inmunoflurescence studies. Patients received racemic epinephrine (100%), systemic steroids (96%), oxygen (15%), salbutamol (11%) and antibiotics (11%). Complications were infrequent and include pneumonia (3%) and bacterial tracheitis (2%). 

Conclusions: Our study showed that croup was a frequent condition in males younger than 2 years-old. Most patients present symptoms in autumn and winter, with short-period hospitalizations and low risk of complications.