A four-year old child is being evaluated in the emergency room for difficulty breathing and a fever. Upon arrival to the ER, the respiratory therapist notes the patient has a barking cough. CXR results reveal subglottic swelling with a steeple sign. The most likely diagnosis is?
- Asthma
- Croup
- Epiglottitis
- Pneumonia
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2. Croup
Explanations
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Asthma is not associated with subglottic swelling or fever.
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Croup is associated with a barking cough, and subglottic swelling which may appear as a steeple. Though croup is caused by a viral infection, it is often accompanied by a fever.
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Epiglottitis is not associated with subglottic swelling and does not reveal a steeple sign on X-ray. Epiglottitis is associated with suptrglottic swelling and is associated with a thumb sign on X-ray.
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Pneumonia is not associated with subglottic swelling or a barking cough.
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