aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Causes include:

  • acute epiglottitis:
    • sudden onset
    • the child looks toxic
    • very distressed child
    • sitting forward
    • drooling
  • croup:
    • onset over 1 or 2 days
    • preceding illness
  • laryngeal foreign body:
    • suggestive history
    • child usually not ill or febrile
  • others:
    • bacterial tracheitis
    • diphtheria - consider if immunisation is deficient
    • acute anaphylaxis