What causes croup in adults?

What is croup?

An inflammation or infection in the larynx and trachea which is most commonly observed in children is referred to as croup. It is also referred to as laryngotracheobronchitis as croup affects the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Croup is a type of respiratory infection that causes the throat and the upper airways of the lungs to swell and narrow which leads to difficulty in breathing. Some common symptoms of croup are barking cough, noisy breathing, hoarseness in voice, etc.

Croup generally occurs in upper respiratory tract due to viruses and bacteria which results in inflammation, increased mucus production, and swelling of the upper airways. Croup is common in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years but is also found in adults.

Signs and symptoms of croup in adults

Mild cold, cough and fever are observed as initial symptoms of croup in the first 2-4 days (incubation days) of acquiring the infection. The other prominent symptoms of croup are:

• Rhinorrhea, in some cases
• Noisy breathing, or a rasping sound when breathing in, known as stridor
• Runny nose, sore throat or congestion
• Inflammation of the patient's airways
• Exudates and erythema, in some
• Harsh, barking (hoarse) sound that resembles the sound of seals
• Rashes
• Swelling of vocal cord
• Redness in eye
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Low oxygen levels result in blue-tinged skin on the fingers, toenails, earlobes, the tip of the nose, lips, tongue, and the inside of the cheek
• High fever, in rare cases, occurs in adults

Causes of croup in adults

• Viruses: Croup in adults is mainly caused by parainfuenza virus. Is croup contagious? This airborne virus is contagious and results in swelling around the vocal cords, windpipe, and bronchial tubes. This swelling is a symptom of croup. About 65% of the infections occur due to human parainfluenza virus 1 and 2 in all cases. It is also observed that parainfluenza-3 is the main cause of croup in adults. Some other viruses which result in croups include the adenovirus or common cold viruses- influenzas A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mycoplasma, metapneumovirus and measles.
• Bacterial infection: Bacterial infection such as a staph infection is usually more severe and requires different treatment. Bacterial croup is more commonly known as bacterial tracheitis which occurs due to secondary bacterial infection from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), S. pyogenes, S. pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
• Croups, in some people, are caused by some allergens or due to continuous exposure to harmful and inhaled irritants and also due to some fungal infections. Although, exposure to harmful toxins or other allergic substances should be avoided but these can rarely be the causes for croup.

Viruses posses the ability to spread through the mucus while coughing or sneezing. For adults, the chances of catching the infection are comparatively low.

The doctors diagnose the symptoms through physical examination and sometimes, through chest X-rays. Accordingly, the infection is treated with the help of medicines and home remedies.

Mohd Salman, Mbbs, is a medical science professional and is associated with DiseaseFix as a researcher. Find the most relevant and updated information about the disease in DiseaseFix.