SARS-CoV-2-induced croup in paediatric patients in Aseer region, south-western, Saudi Arabia: two case reports

Abstract

Author(s): Mohammed Abdullah Alshehri*, Abdulaziz Mohammed Alshehri and Reema Mohammed Algossadi

Croup is a relatively mild and self-limiting disease but may occasionally be associated with severe morbidity in young children. While Para influenza is known to be the most common etiologic agent, other viruses can also cause croup that may be more severe. We report two cases (20 months, 3 years old) with classic symptoms and signs suggestive of croup, one case had severe croup that required admission to paediatric intensive care unit, the other one had moderate croup who admitted to the paediatric general ward in March and April 2021. Both were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) by polymerase chain reaction testing from nasopharyngeal samples that were negative for all other pathogens including the most common etiologies of croup. In conclusion, croup is one of the respiratory symptoms of novel SARS-CoV-2 in children therefore; the presence of clinical manifestations of croup indicates the need for COVID-19 screening.

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