Croup vs Epiglottitis with treatment algorithm
Posted by dkwinter

Usual dose of dexamethasone for Croup: 0.6 mg/kg PO or IM. Usual maximum dose: 16 mg. May repeat in 6 to 24 hours.

 

Sx of airway disease

  • Tachypnea
  • Hypoxia
  • Wheeze
  • Stridor
  • Nasal flaring
  • Grunting
  • Intercostal recession/indrawing
  • Use of accessory muscles

 

Ddx: anaphylaxis, foreign body, retropharyngeal abscess, epiglottitis, croup, bacterial tracheitis

 

Croup

etiology: parainfluenza virus (1&3), influenza virus, adenovirus, RSV, mycoplasma pneumonia.

Infection causes inflammation causing edema causing narrowing of subglottic region

Epiglottitis
Usually 6 mo - 3 yo  
Stridor (C.f. wheeze in LRT process) Stridor
Clinical diagnosis (do not routinely need XR) Drooling
  Sitting up/won't lay down
  High fever

Management:

Scroll down to treatment algorithm/flow-chart.

Management:

Do NOT examine throat

Get XR of neck soft tissues

Airway emergency, contact Anesth/ENT/RT