PaediatricsEmergency MedicineENT
Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)
NICE CKS / Westley severity — single-dose oral dexamethasone for all, nebulised adrenaline for moderate–severe, recognise differentials.
Source: NICE CKS Croup; APLS
Step 1 of ~7
info
Diagnosis & Differentials
Barking cough, hoarse voice, stridor, low-grade fever, age 6 months–6 years (peak 2y). Differentials to exclude: epiglottitis (drooling, toxic, no cough — DO NOT examine throat), bacterial tracheitis (toxic, high fever), foreign body, anaphylaxis, retropharyngeal abscess. Keep child calm — distress worsens obstruction. Verify all paediatric drug doses against a children's formulary.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Dexamethasone · Corticosteroid — ENT Inflammation / Croup
- Quinine · Antimalarial — Severe / Complicated Malaria (IV) / Nocturnal Cramps (Oral)
- Morphine (Paediatric) · Opioid Analgesic — Moderate to Severe Pain in Children
- Dexamethasone (Paediatric) · Corticosteroid — Croup / Bacterial Meningitis / Post-Extubation Stridor / Cerebral Oedema
- Flupentixol · Typical Antipsychotic (Thioxanthene) — Also Used as Low-dose Antidepressant
- Dupilumab (Moderate-Severe Asthma) · Anti-IL-4/IL-13 receptor alpha monoclonal antibody (type 2 inflammation biologic)
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.