The relation between recurrent acute subglottic laryngitis and asthma in children.

OBJECTIVE

Acute subglottic laryngitis is caused by some viruses and may recur several times in children. Risk factors underlying the recurrences of this disease are obscure. The present study was undertaken to investigate the relation between acute subglottic laryngitis, asthma and allergy.

METHODS

Twenty five children with recurrent acute subglottic laryngitis were evaluated for risk factors for recurrent respiratory tract infections and allergy. Eight of the children had high IgE levels and six of them were found to be allergic by skin prick tests.

RESULTS

During a 1 year follow-up period four children showed asthma symptoms and in three of these patients recurrences of croup attacks disappeared after asthma treatment with nebulized budesonide.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that recurrent acute subglottic laryngitis may be an early sign of subsequent asthma development.