| Term | Description |
| RAD definition | when tissues of the airways react to invasion by an irritant ( viral , bacyerial, allergen or other) with inflammation, edema, mucus production and bronchospasm |
| characteristics | reversible, usually self limiting, responsive to tx, occur in upper and lower airways |
| categories | croup syndromes, asthma, bronchiolotis |
| croup syn | category of UPPER airway illnesses resulting in swelling of the epiglottis and larynx. swelling may EXTEND to the trachea and bronchi, may be VIRAL or Bacterial |
| viral croups | spasmodic laryngitis( spasmodic sroup), laryngo-tracheitis, and laryngo- trache0-bronchitis (LTB) |
| Bacterial croups | bacterial tracheitis, eppiglottis |
| the croup cough; | (blank) |
| classic symptoms of croup syn | inspiratory, stridor, seal-like cough, hoarseness |
| acute spasmodic croup | LEAST serious , inspiratory stridor at the level of the vocal sords, laryngeal spasm, self limiting but tendency to recur( couple of hrs for several days) |
| characteristics | age group- 3mo-3yrs, allergic or viral, sudden onset usually at night, usually resolves by am |
| clinical manifestations | barking metallic cough, hoarseness, AFIBRILE, diminished breath sounds, labored respiration |
| management | supportive, cold mist, humidity |
| LARYNGOTRACHEITIS | MOST common, mild to moderate INFLAMMATION, and edema of larynx and trachea, gradual onset, self limiting, VIRAL |
| Characteristics | age group 3mo-8yrs, usually associated with UPPER resp infection |
| clinical manifestations | LOW grade fever, hoarse barking cough, sore throat, stridor |
| management | managed at HOME, oral hydration, OTC analgesics, OTC antipyretics, enery concervation |
| LARYNGO-TRACHEO-BRONCHITIS | Most SERIOUS viral croup syn, obstructive edema BELOW vocal cords, inflammation and swelling of subglottic tissues, self limited duration approx 1 wk, gradual onset, associated with URI |
| Clinical manifestaions | low grade fever, inspiratory stridor, hoarsness, croupy cough, sore throat, restless and irritable, may progress to =>severe resp distress, retrations, and cyanosis |
| tx | may req hospitalization , IV fluics, humidification, medication, oxygen |
| nursing care focus | assessment of resp status, vital signs, o2 sat, maintenance of patent airway-position, supplemental oxygen, conservation of energy-bed rest, hydration (increased RR increases metabolic fluid expd) and nutrition-maintenance plus replacement, discharge plan |
