Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. 2021.3(115): 15-22. doi 10.15574/SP.2021.115.15
Romanko M. R.
Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv

For citation: Romanko MR. (2021). Recurrent episodes of viral croup in children: potential causes and approaches to its prevention. Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. 3(115): 15-22. doi 10.15574/SP.2021.115.15
Article received: Jan 05, 2021. Accepted for publication: Apr 20, 2021.

Viral croup is one of the most common causes of upper respiratory tract obstruction in children under 6 years of age. Frequent acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and a burdened history of allergies might be triggers for recurrent episodes of viral croup.
Purpose — to study vitamin D status in infants with viral croup and the efficacy of cholecalciferol supplements for recurrent episodes prevention.
Materials and methods. Hospital(based survey included 128 children aged 4–36 months with viral croup. Vitamin D status was evaluated by measuring serum 25 (OH) D levels. Control studies were performed after 12 weeks. A prospective follow(up study lasted for three years.
Results. 32.8±4.1% (42/128) of hospitalized children with viral croup had a history of frequent episodes of ARIs (>6 episodes per year). Recurrent episodes of viral croup were more frequent in children with a burdened history of allergies compared to those who did not have allergies — 46.4±9.4% (13/28) vs. 23.0±4.2% (23/100) (р=0.028). At the time of enrollment, 47.6±4.4% (61/128) of children had optimal concentration of 25 (ОН) D (30–100 ng/ml). Serum 25 (OH) D levels in children who regularly received supplements were 33.5 ng/ml (27.2–44.5) at the time of control. Patients with a level of 25 (OH) D>30 ng/ml were less likely to have recurrent ARIs (0/29) during the observation period compared to those with a level of 25 (OH) D 20–30 ng/ml (25.0±10.8%, 4/16) (p=0.023). In children with a concentration of 25 (OH) D>30 ng/ml, the risks for recurrent episodes of viral croup in the future were 9 times lower (OR=9.00; 95% CI: 1.55–52.27), and the risks of more mild viral croup course were 11.4 times lower (OR=11.40; 95% CI: 1.20–108.29).
Conclusions. Insufficient levels of vitamin D were recorded in 46.1±4.4% of children with viral croup. When the concentration of 25 (OH) D in serum increased to >30 ng/ml, the frequency of recurrent ARIs decreased (p=0.023); the risks for recurrent episodes of viral croup decreased, as well as the risks of more severe viral croup course.
The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.
No conflict of interest was declared by the author.
Key words: recurrent episodes, viral croup, children, causes, prevention.

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