Hoarseness, wheeze and stridor

Question 1

Causes of hoarse voice

Answer 1

Laryngitis

GORD

Voice overuse/ missuse

Vocal cord polyps/ nodules

Laryngeal cancer

Neurological: stroke, PD

Question 2

Causes of wheeze

Answer 2

Chronic lung disease
- Asthma
- COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchiectasis

Infective
- Viral asthma
- Bronchiolitis (< 1year)

Anaphylaxis

Question 3

Causes of stridor

Answer 3

Infective
- Epiglottitis
- Bacterial tracheitis
- Quinsy
- Croup

Foreign object inhalation

Chronic stridor
- Laryngomalacia
- Malignancy

Question 4

Causes of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

Answer 4

Iatrogenic
- Thyroid surgery
- Endotracheal intubation

Malignancy
- Thyroid tumour

Lesions
- Aortic aneurysm

Question 5

Investigation for chronic stridor/ hoarseness

Answer 5

Fibreoptic nasal endoscopy

Question 6

First line management of epiglotitis

Answer 6

High flow oxygen

IV antibiotics
- Ceftriaxone

Question 7

Referral pathway indications for laryngeal cancer

Answer 7

Age >45 with
- Unexplained persistent Hoarse voice / neck lump