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
Explanations
Asthma is not associated with subglottic swelling or fever.
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.
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.
Pneumonia is not associated with subglottic swelling or a barking cough.