Croup
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
PediatricsRespiratoryInfectious Diseasehigh priorityneeds review
Croup
Also testable as: Laryngotracheobronchitis
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Usually viral upper airway infection causing laryngeal and tracheal swelling.
- Subglottic edema narrows the pediatric airway, causing barky cough and stridor.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Corticosteroids | Steroids may reduce airway inflammation when ordered. |
Signs / symptoms
- Barking cough and inspiratory stridor.
- Agitation worsens airway narrowing.
- Stridor at rest is high priority.
Nursing actions
- Assess stridor at rest, retractions, oxygen saturation, agitation, drooling, and fatigue.
- Keep the child calm and upright; provide humidified air/oxygen and medications as ordered.
- Escalate stridor at rest, cyanosis, drooling, or decreased level of consciousness.
Complications
- Airway obstruction
- Respiratory failure
- Dehydration
NCLEX cues
- Barking cough and inspiratory stridor.
- Agitation worsens airway narrowing.
- Stridor at rest is high priority.
Memory hooks
- Croup sounds like a bark; stridor at rest is bad.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Clinical assessment
- Pulse oximetry
- Neck/chest imaging only when ordered and stable
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
Croup
Condition card for Croup: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Termcondition cue
Retractions
Skin pulling in around ribs, sternum, or neck during breathing.
Termcondition cue
Stridor
High-pitched upper airway sound, often heard on inspiration.
Med classmedication safety
Corticosteroids
Suppresses inflammation and immune activity; systemic use affects glucose, infection risk, and adrenal response.
Procedureprocedure
Emergency airway assessment and management
Focused evaluation and support of airway patency, breathing effort, oxygenation, and need for escalation.
Procedureprocedure
Nebulized medication administration
Inhaled medication delivery through aerosolized mist.