Prognostic factors and importance of recognition of adult croup

Abstract

Objectives: Croup, or laryngotracheobronchitis, is a common disease in childhood. On the other hand, to our knowledge, there are only 14 cases in six English literatures describing adult croup (AC). The clinical features of AC have not been well known.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of 18 patients with AC during the period from 2008 to 2016.

Results: None of the 18 patients required an urgent airway intervention. Univariate analysis indicated that the duration of symptoms was significantly longer in patients with cough (p < .01) and younger patients (age < 60, p = .037). The duration of subglottic edema was significantly longer in female (p = .035), patients with high levels of CRP (≥1 mg/dL, p = .049), and patients with cough symptom (p = .035).

Conclusions: Female, young age (<60 years), the symptom of cough, and high levels of CRP should be recognized as signs of prolonged AC. It is important to confirm the diagnosis of AC by laryngoscopic examination, which also help to avoid airway intervention.

Chinese abstract

目的：喉炎或喉气管支气管炎是儿童时期常见的疾病。另一方面, 据我们所知, 仅有14个描述成人喉炎（AC）的病例出现在六份英文文献中。 AC的临床特征尚不为人知。

方法：我们对2008年至2016年间18例AC患者的病历资料进行了回顾性分析。

结果：18例患者均无需紧急气道介入。单变量分析显示, 咳嗽患者（p < 0.01）和较年轻患者（年龄<60岁, p = 0.037）的症状持续时间明显较长。声门下水肿的持续时间在女性（p = 0.035）、高CRP水平（≥1mg/dL, p = 0.049）患者和咳嗽症状患者（p = 0.035）中明显较长。

结论：女性、年龄较轻（<60岁）、咳嗽症状和CRP水平高应被认为是持续性AC的征兆。通过喉镜检查来确诊AC, 这非常重要, 也有助于避免气道介入。

Keywords:

• Adult croup
• prognostic factors
• early diagnosis
• stridor
• airway intervention

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors report no financial interests, relationships and affiliations relevant to the subject of the manuscript.