EPIDEMIOLOGY, TREATMENT, AND COMPLICATIONS OF CROUP SYNDROME IN CHILDREN
Journal
Acta morphologica
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Gjinovska Tasevska, Elena
Doksimovski, Filip
Tasevska Rajkovikj, Аna
Petlichkovska, Sandra
Abstract
Introduction: Croup syndrome is an urgent pediatric condition. It is characterized by the
abrupt onset, most commonly at night, of a barking cough, that is usually accompanied by
inspiratory stridor, hoarseness and respiratory distress resulting from upper-airway obstruction.
This is the most common reason why parents are upset and immediately seek medical help.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, treatment, and possible
complications of croup syndrome in children hospitalized at our institute.
Materials and methods: In our retrospective study we examined 56 pediatric cases with
croup syndrome that were hospitalized in our Institute and we analyzed gender and age, the
season in which we had the most frequent hospitalizations of children with croup syndrome, as
well as treatment and possible complications after completion of croup symptoms. Period of
examination was one year.
Results: Mean age at diagnosis of children with croup was 26,5 ±2.6 months (range from
45 days to 8 years). As well the world statistics we got a larger number of hospitalized boys
with croup syndrome, rather than girls (ratio 2,3:1). Regarding the period of the year, the
autumn period was dominant. As far as the treatment, we noticed significant number of children
with moderate to severe croup syndrome that required in-patient care. All of them received
nebulized adrenalin as well as parenteral corticosteroid. The average duration of the
hospitalizations that occurred in our unit for close monitoring and semi-intensive care was 5
days (1-14d). Antibiotics were used in 71% (n=40). Most common comorbidity was pneumonia
and bronchopneumonia (14,2%, n=8). None of the children was of need of intubation and
referral to intensive care unit.
Conclusion: Our one-year research has documented considerable number of children with
the necessary hospitalization, as many as 10% of hospitalized children in our Institute were due
to moderate to severe croup syndrome. The sex, the age of the children as well as the season
are most often in line with world statistics. We are noticing high percent of hospitalized patients
with moderate croup. There is evident discrepancy between the use of antibiotics and its
duration in our practice in comparison with other reports. These observations lead to
reassessment of the hospitalization criteria as well as more rational use of antibiotics.
abrupt onset, most commonly at night, of a barking cough, that is usually accompanied by
inspiratory stridor, hoarseness and respiratory distress resulting from upper-airway obstruction.
This is the most common reason why parents are upset and immediately seek medical help.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, treatment, and possible
complications of croup syndrome in children hospitalized at our institute.
Materials and methods: In our retrospective study we examined 56 pediatric cases with
croup syndrome that were hospitalized in our Institute and we analyzed gender and age, the
season in which we had the most frequent hospitalizations of children with croup syndrome, as
well as treatment and possible complications after completion of croup symptoms. Period of
examination was one year.
Results: Mean age at diagnosis of children with croup was 26,5 ±2.6 months (range from
45 days to 8 years). As well the world statistics we got a larger number of hospitalized boys
with croup syndrome, rather than girls (ratio 2,3:1). Regarding the period of the year, the
autumn period was dominant. As far as the treatment, we noticed significant number of children
with moderate to severe croup syndrome that required in-patient care. All of them received
nebulized adrenalin as well as parenteral corticosteroid. The average duration of the
hospitalizations that occurred in our unit for close monitoring and semi-intensive care was 5
days (1-14d). Antibiotics were used in 71% (n=40). Most common comorbidity was pneumonia
and bronchopneumonia (14,2%, n=8). None of the children was of need of intubation and
referral to intensive care unit.
Conclusion: Our one-year research has documented considerable number of children with
the necessary hospitalization, as many as 10% of hospitalized children in our Institute were due
to moderate to severe croup syndrome. The sex, the age of the children as well as the season
are most often in line with world statistics. We are noticing high percent of hospitalized patients
with moderate croup. There is evident discrepancy between the use of antibiotics and its
duration in our practice in comparison with other reports. These observations lead to
reassessment of the hospitalization criteria as well as more rational use of antibiotics.
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