A therapist is viewing frontal and lateral neck X-rays of a 12-month-old child and notices what is described as the "steeple" or "church steeple" sign: subglottic narrowing below the vocal cords and an overdistended hypopharynx. Which of the following conditions does this child likely have?

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Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in children, with a peak incidence in infants and children 6 months to 5 years of age. Most cases are virally induced (parainfluenza) and cause inspiratory stridor with a barking cough. Frontal and lateral neck radiographs may show the characteristic subglottic narrowing below the vocal cords with loss of the normal "shouldering" of the airway and resultant "church steeple" appearance. The hypopharynx usually appears overdistended.

A Therapist Is Viewing Frontal and Lateral Neck X-Rays of a 12-Month-Old