[Epidemiology and symptoms of stenosing laryngotracheitis (pseudo-croup) in 1322 inpatients in Bochum in the last 17 years].
During the 17 years period from 1967 to 1983 a total number of 1322 children were hospitalized for infectious croup (stenosing laryngotracheitis) at the Children's Hospital in Bochum. The epidemiology of this disease, especially the yearly and seasonal incidence as well as clinical symptoms were analyzed. For this purpose at least 18 data were obtained from each patient and processed by computer using an especially elaborated FORTRAN IV program. The main incidence of infectious croup was in fall and winter, with a peak in September and October. The symptoms began usually at nighttime and boys were affected 2.5 times more frequently than girls. The risk of disease was highest in the second year of life and decreased sharply with the begin of school age. Sixteen per cent of the children had recurrent attacks of stenosing laryngotracheitis. The main therapeutic procedures were listed and discussed. Besides air humidification, sufficient application of liquids and steroids in serious cases, racemic epinephrine given by mask and positive pressure ventilation has been demonstrated to be very effective. While the viral etiology of this disease has been well established possibilities in which way meteorological and environmental factors might contribute to the manifestation of this disease are discussed. This problem can be solved only by prospective investigations. No statistically relevant increase in the number of cases of stenosing laryngotracheitis during recent years can be found in the presented results.