Table 7.
Main clinical characteristics of laryngotracheitis, epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis and spasmodic croup
| Feature | Laryngotracheitis | Epiglottitis | Bacterial tracheitis | Spasmodic croup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viral prodromal illness | ++ | - | + | + |
| Mean age | 6–36 months | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | 6–36 months |
| Illness onset | Gradual | Acute | Acute | Sudden |
| Fever | +/- | + | + | - |
| Quality of stridor | Harsh | Mild | Harsh | Harsh |
| Drooling, neck hyperextension | - | ++ | + | - |
| Cough | ++ | - | ++ | ++ |
| Sore throat | +/- | ++ | +/- | - |
| Recurrence | + | - | - | ++ |
| Hospitalization and intubation | Rare | Frequent | Frequent | Rare |
From: Bell L: Middle respiratory tract infections. In: Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Principle and Practice. Edited by Jenson H, Baltimore R, 2nd edn. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2002: 772. [98]