Mistaken identity ... is it epiglottitis or croup?

Acute respiratory distress in children is a terrifying experience for both the child and the parents. It also poses a tremendous challenge to nurses and physicians who must diagnose and treat the child's illness. Although the cause of acute respiratory distress in children can vary, the initial symptoms can all look the same to even the most experienced practitioner. Epiglottitis, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection, often masquerades as the more common and less severe viral illness croup.