Stridor
Stridor is high pitched sound heard when child breaths in (inspiration) and also heard during expiration.
Causes by obstruction or narrowing of child's upper airways;
Nose, nasal cavity, mouth, sinuses, larynx, trachea.
Sound of stridor depends on location of obstruction.
Types of stridor
Mostly stridor in children originates from supra-glottic lesion.
1. Inspiratory stridor
Obstruction above vaocal cords (supra-glottic).
2. Expiratory stridor
Obstruction is in distal trachea.
3. Biphasic stridor
Heared both during inspiration and expiration. Originates from glottic, subglottic or proximal tracheal lesion.
Etiology
1. Congenital causes
Laryngomalacia; part of larynx are floppy and collapse.
Subglottic Stenosis (larynx become too narrow below vocal cord).
Subglottic hemangioma (mass consists mostly of blood vessels)
Vascular ring
(Trachea compressed by artery or vein around it.)
2. Infection causes
Croup (swelling in airway)
Epiglottitis (bacterial inflammation of epiglottitis)
Bronchitis (virus/bacteria/ allergen/ inflammation of bronchi
Severe tonsillitis (round piece of tissue located at throat or behind throat).
Retropharyngeal abscess
3. Traumatic cause
Foreign bodies in ear, nose
Fracture in neck
Swallowing harmful substances
Diagnostic Evaluation
1. Child medical history/ physical examination
2. Chest and neck X ray
3. Bronchoscopy
4. Pulse oximetery
5. Sputum culture
Management
Depend upon;
Child's age
Care of condition
ENT evaluation of care
Medication to reduce inflammation of airway
Surgery
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