Croup syndrome

1. Big picture

Croup syndrome means acute upper airway obstruction around the larynx, subglottic region, and trachea, classically presenting with:

Barking cough + hoarseness + inspiratory stridor ± respiratory distress

The most common and exam-relevant form is viral croup, also called acute subglottic laryngitis / laryngotracheitis / pseudocroup.

The key pediatric emergency logic:

Child with stridor
→ Is the airway safe?
→ Is it viral croup or a dangerous mimic?
→ Keep child calm
→ Give corticosteroid
→ Add nebulized adrenaline if moderate/severe
→ Observe and escalate if worsening

The examiner wants you to distinguish viral croup from epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, foreign body aspiration, retropharyngeal abscess, and anaphylaxis.

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