Otolaryngology >>>> False croup

False croup.

Croup is a pathological condition of the tissues of the larynx, when the vocal cords are involved in the inflammatory process. Inflammation of the tissues of the larynx can develop for various reasons:

in connection with viral respiratory diseases (influenza, adenovirus infection, parainfluenza, mixed viral infection),
against the background of bacterial infections with diphtheria, angina, scarlet fever,
due to allergic laryngeal edema,
when a foreign body enters the larynx region.

False croup (synonyms: acute laryngotracheitis, subglottic laryngitis, stenosing laryngotracheitis) occurs when the larynx region, located under the vocal cords, is affected, where the mucous membrane has a thicker and looser layer, contains many glands. This structure of the mucosa causes edema. False croup usually develops in children under five years of age, since at this age the airways are narrower than in adults and older children, the cartilage is more elastic, the mucous membrane is prone to swelling, which, during inflammation, complicates the passage of not only air masses, but can disrupt the act of swallowing saliva (not to mention eating).

Bacterial - viral infections precede the appearance of false croup. Most often, false croup develops as a complication of acute laryngitis. But sometimes it can be the result of more serious diseases: diphtheria or epiglottitis.

Typical signs of false croup

rapid breathing,
hoarseness of voice,
change in the timbre of the voice (a rough voice appears),wheezing when inhaling,
Barking cough,
cyanosis of the lips (blue discoloration),
difficulty swallowing
possible temperature rise,
loss of consciousness is possible,
possible convulsions,
asphyxia (suffocation) is possible.

Typically signs of false croup appear at night and can last for several hours. In the daytime, the condition improves.

Similar symptoms of croup can also occur in a number of other cases not associated with respiratory diseases:

at the moment a foreign body enters the trachea or larynx during inhalation, due to the fact that they cause a reflex spasm of the larynx,
with angioedema in case of laryngeal edema.

Treatment of false croup requires urgent medical attention, since it may be necessary to restore the patency of the larynx. Therefore, at the first sign of difficulty breathing and swallowing, they call an ambulance. Before the ambulance arrives, you can relieve the child's condition by creating an atmosphere in the room close to the humid tropics: the temperature is about 18 in Celsius and high humidity (using a humidifier, nebulizer, steamer that releases steam into the atmosphere of the room or steam inhalations, not oily). And they also create an emotional environment that relaxes the child's nervous tension in order to reduce the feeling of fear and not provoke or not aggravate stenosis of the larynx on a nerve basis. In the hospital, oxygen inhalation is possible. Drug therapy for false croup is prescribed according to the treatment of the underlying disease that provoked the false croup.