喉气管支气管炎是幼儿急性呼吸窘迫的常见病因。6 个月至 3 岁儿童尤其易感,2 岁时发病率最高。据报道,小于 6 个月的婴儿、青少年或成年人(较为罕见)也会罹患喉气管支气管炎。[1]Denny FW, Murphy TF, Clyde WA Jr, et al. Croup: an 11-year study in a pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 1983;71:871-876.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6304611?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Tong MC, Chu MC, Leighton SE, et al. Adult croup. Chest. 1996;109:1659-1662.http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/data/Journals/CHEST/21733/1659.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8769531?tool=bestpractice.com 美国对一组儿科患者的观察研究发现,下呼吸道感染病例中 15% 确诊为喉气管支气管炎。[1]Denny FW, Murphy TF, Clyde WA Jr, et al. Croup: an 11-year study in a pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 1983;71:871-876.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6304611?tool=bestpractice.com 男孩更容易患病,男孩与女孩的发病率之比为 1.4:1。[1]Denny FW, Murphy TF, Clyde WA Jr, et al. Croup: an 11-year study in a pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 1983;71:871-876.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6304611?tool=bestpractice.com 没有证据显示存在种族差异。深秋季节(9 月到 12 月)为住院高峰,但是全年都可发病。[3]Marx A, Torok TJ, Holman RC, et al. Pediatric hospitalizations for croup (laryngotracheobronchitis): biennial increases associated with human parainfluenza virus 1 epidemics. J Infect Dis. 1997;176:1423-1427.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9395350?tool=bestpractice.com 临床表现的高峰期与副流感病毒流行相关。这些高峰期通常发生在年份交替时,导致因患喉气管支气管炎而入院的儿童人数增加 50%。[3]Marx A, Torok TJ, Holman RC, et al. Pediatric hospitalizations for croup (laryngotracheobronchitis): biennial increases associated with human parainfluenza virus 1 epidemics. J Infect Dis. 1997;176:1423-1427.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9395350?tool=bestpractice.com