Croup historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Diptheritic croup reports date back to the Homer-era of Ancient Greece, speculating to have emerged in the 12th century B.C.E. The Viral-based croup was discovered in 1826 by French medical doctor Pierre Bretonneau. Initial therapies included cold water mist to soothe pain as well as tracheotomy for patients with severe cases requiring hospitalization. In the 1970s, nebulized Epinephrine emerged as a therapy. Glucocorticoid therapies emerged in the late 1980s’ and 1990’s. Preventative therapy emerged with successful immunization of individuals against diptheritic croup with the development of influenza and diptheria vaccines.

• The first reported cases of diptheritic croup date back to Ancient Greece, speculated to the 12th century B.C.E.^[1]
• Viral croup was discovered and differentiated from diptheritic croup in 1826 by French medical doctor Pierre Bretonneau^[1]

• Initial therapies included:
  • Cold water mist to alleviate symptoms.^[2]
  • Tracheotomys performed if the patient was hospitalized.^[2]
• Nebulized Epinephrine was introduced as a croup therapy in the 1970s’, attempting to prevent hospitalization.^[2]
• Glucocorticoids emerged as an effective therapy in the late 1980s’ and early 1990s’.^[3]
  • Budesonide, a nebulized glucocorticoid, emerged after a 1994 study by Dr. Terry Klassen et al.^[4]
• Creation of vaccines for diptheria and influenza led to the emergence of diptheritic croup immunization.^[5]

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