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Steeple sign - croup

Case contributed by Andrew Ho
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Low grade fever and mild cough.

Patient Data

Age: 3 years
Gender: Male
Annotated image

Frontal radiograph reveals symmetric subglottic narrowing secondary to subglottic edema.

Case Discussion

Features demonstrating the "Steeple" sign in keeping with croup.

Most common signs/symptoms of croup acutely include a barky ('croupy") or seal-like cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor. However, early on, during the prodrome phase, the child might only present with a low-grade fever,  mild cough and rhinorrhea, such as the case in this patient. Often seen in young infants (6 months - 3 years old). 

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