Stridor

Question 1

Causes of stridor in children

Answer 1

Croup

Acute epiglottis

Inhaled foreign body

Laryngomalacia

Question 2

Croup = upper respiratory tract infection seen in infants & toddlers

=> characterised by stridor caused by laryngeal oedema and secretions

=> caused by parainfluenza viruses

Answer 2

Peak incidence at 6 months - 3 years

More common in autumn

Features inc. stridor, barking cough (worse at night), fever, coryzal symptoms

Question 3

Acute epiglottitis is rare but serious infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B. Prompt recognition and treatment is essential as airway obstruction may develop.

=> Epiglottitis generally occurs in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years.

=> Incidence of epiglottitis has decreased since the introduction of the Hib vaccine

Answer 3

Features:

Rapid onset

Unwell, toxic child

Stridor

Drooling of saliva

Question 4

Inhaled foreign body - symptoms depend on the site of impaction

Answer 4

Features are of sudden onset:

=> coughing

=> choking

=> vomiting

=> stridor

Question 5

Laryngomalacia: congenital abnormality of the larynx

Answer 5

Infants typical present at 4 weeks of age with stridor