Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Practice Test

Which respiratory disorder is characterized by a seal bark cough and stridor?

1. Pneumonia

2. Bronchiolitis

3. Croup

4. Epiglottitis

The correct answer is: Croup

The respiratory disorder characterized by a seal bark cough and stridor is croup. This condition, commonly seen in children, is often caused by viral infections that lead to inflammation of the larynx and trachea, resulting in a characteristic barking cough and stridor, which is a high-pitched wheezing sound produced during breathing. Croup symptoms typically worsen at night and improve during the day. The seal bark cough is distinctive and often prompts parents to seek medical attention. Management usually involves ensuring airway patency, administering humidified air or corticosteroids, and sometimes nebulized epinephrine in more severe cases. Understanding these symptoms and their association with croup is essential for diagnosing and providing appropriate care. Other respiratory disorders present different symptoms. For instance, pneumonia often involves a productive cough, fever, and chest discomfort rather than the distinctive seal-like cough. Bronchiolitis usually presents with wheezing and difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the bronchioles and is more common in infants. Epiglottitis, while it can also cause stridor, generally presents with severe sore throat, drooling, and difficulty swallowing, which are less prominent in croup.