Final answer:
Children are more vulnerable to croup due to the narrowness of their airways and their developing immune systems. Minor swelling can quickly lead to difficulty breathing for them, while adults with wider airways and more mature immune systems typically experience less severe symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children are more prone to croup when they acquire a viral infection than adults because a child's airway is narrower than an adult's, making them more susceptible to airway obstruction from swelling caused by an infection. Additionally, the immature immune system of a child compared to that of an adult can lead to a more pronounced response to viral infections. In terms of croup specifically, this condition often results from inflammation and swelling of the throat and larynx, which can be more severe in children because their smaller airways quickly become obstructed. Croup is characterized by a distinctive barking cough and difficulty breathing.
Viral infections such as parainfluenza can cause croup, and while both adults and children may contract the same virus, the narrowness of a young child's airway facilitates the development of croup symptoms, which can quickly lead to breathing difficulties. Other factors contributing to this difference include the fact that children's immune systems are still developing, making it easier for the virus to replicate and cause more severe symptoms, and children's tendency to explore the world orally, which can increase the risk of coming into contact with infectious agents.