Differentiating Epiglottitis From Croup
Feature | Epiglottitis | Croup* |
|---|---|---|
Onset | Acute and fulminant in children | More gradual |
Age | Commonly, 2–8 years (particularly if not vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae type B) and adults | Commonly, 6–36 months |
Barking cough | Uncommon | Characteristic |
Epiglottis | Edematous and cherry red | May be erythematous |
Neck x-ray findings | Enlarged epiglottis (thumb sign) and distention of the hypopharynx | Subglottic narrowing (steeple sign) and a normal-sized epiglottis |
* Also called viral laryngotracheal bronchitis. | ||
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