Nursery World - A Unique Child: Health - A doctor's diary ... croup

'Doctor, my son has been coughing all night and he sounds awful.'

Croup is an infection of the larynx, trachea and sometimes its two branches, the principal bronchi. The technical name for it is laryngotracheitis or laryngotracheobronchitis, depending on what is affected. It is a disease of the upper airway and is distinct from bronchiolitis, which is a disease of the smaller airways.

While teenagers can get croup, it is principally a childhood disease, particularly affecting those between six months and three years of age. Boys tend to be affected slightly more than girls and it is more common during the winter months.

Viruses tend to be the main causative agent in croup, although bacteria such as mycoplasma may occasionally be implicated. Such viruses include para-influenza which accounts for the majority of cases, influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, echo virus, coxsackie, varicella-zoster, herpes simplex and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These viruses are also responsible for a number of other conditions including seasonal flu, the common cold, cold sores, chickenpox and bronchiolitis.

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