Once the airway is secured, the larynx can be examined more carefully. Blood cultures are the most reliable means of obtaining a culture of the offending organism. This is a subglottic and tracheobronchial inflammatory process most commonly caused by parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial and other viruses, with circumferential subglottic erythema and edema. Symptoms - Upper airway obstruction with a barking cough. The disease most commonly occurs in children between six months and two years of age.
Viral croup is preceded by an upper respiratory infection with sore throat.
Signs - A characteristic croupy cough, stridor, hoarse voice and tracheobronchial secretions. The child is most often tachypneic and breathing is labored. In patients with more significant respiratory distress, endotracheal intubation or even tracheotomy may be necessary. If bacterial infection supervenes, repeated bronchoscopy may be required to remove purulence and necrotic debris. To understand deep neck infections, a brief review of the cervical fascia and fascial spaces of the neck will be useful.