Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Croup


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Adult Croup [posted 8/14/98]
Question: I recently was hospitalized for what I was told only children become ill with (the Croup). I am 39 years old and am rarely ill and have never been hospitalized before. Is it possible since this is a childhood illness that I may have an immune system problem which needs to be analyzed or was this illness just a fluke?

Answer: Most likely you had adult Pertussis (whooping cough). The immunizations given when you were young tend to wear off and adults will get the infection. This does not mean that their immune system has any problems, merely a lessening of the immunity with time - a normal function. I see several cases a year. Serologies can make the diagnosis if you are interested.

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Last modified August 14, 1998