Comparison between Croup, Epiglottitis and Tracheitis

Table 1 presents a comparison between croup, epiglottitis and tracheitis.

CroupEpiglottitisTracheitis
IncidenceCommonRareRare
Age6 months – 3 years2–7 years6 months- 14 years
AetiologyViralBacterialBacterial
Speed of onsetSlowVery rapidRapid
FeverRarely >39 degreesNormally >39 degreesNormally >39 degrees
CoughBarkingSuppressedPresent
VoiceHoarseMuffledHoarse
PositionSupineSitting forward, neck extendedSupine
Neck X-Ray APSteeple sign*NormalSteeple sign*
Neck X-Ray LateralNormalThumb printHazy
Response to adrenalineVery goodNo responsePartial or no response
*Steeple sign: On anteroposterior radiographs of the soft tissue of the neck the lateral convexities of the subglottic trachea are lost and narrowing of the subglottic lumen produces an inverted ‘V’ pattern, resembling a church steeple. [40]
Fig.1 Steeple sign via epomedicine.com