Croup and Epiglottitis

Abstract

Croup is a common pediatric illness with varying levels of severity. In its mild form, it is a benign, self-limiting illness that requires supportive care. Severe cases require acute medical intervention and may require hospitalization. On the other hand, epiglottitis is a disease that historically had high mortality rates. Recent epidemiologic data have shown a decrease in the incidence of epiglottitis with a shift toward older patients. In this review, we aim to define croup and epiglottitis and describe their epidemiology, etiologies, differential diagnoses, pathogenesis, and management approaches.