Stridor_in_Children_Flashcards

Question 1

What are common causes of stridor in children?

Answer 1

Common causes include croup, acute epiglottitis, inhaled foreign body, and laryngomalacia.

Question 2

What are the features of croup?

Answer 2

Features of croup include stridor, a barking cough (worse at night), fever, and coryzal symptoms.

Question 3

What virus is most commonly associated with croup?

Answer 3

Parainfluenza viruses account for the majority of croup cases.

Question 4

What is the peak incidence age range for croup?

Answer 4

Croup has a peak incidence from 6 months to 3 years of age.

Question 5

Describe the presentation of acute epiglottitis.

Answer 5

Acute epiglottitis presents with rapid onset, unwell, toxic appearance, stridor, and drooling of saliva.

Question 6

What causes acute epiglottitis in children?

Answer 6

Acute epiglottitis is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B.

Question 7

What are symptoms of an inhaled foreign body in children?

Answer 7

Symptoms of an inhaled foreign body include sudden onset coughing, choking, vomiting, and stridor.

Question 8

What is laryngomalacia and how does it present in infants?

Answer 8

Laryngomalacia is a congenital abnormality of the larynx, typically presenting at 4 weeks of age with stridor.

Question 9

SUMMARISE

Answer 9

Stridor in children

Causes of stridor in children include:

Croup Croup is a form of upper respiratory tract infection seen in infants and toddlers. It is characterised by stridor which is caused by a combination of laryngeal oedema and secretions. Parainfluenza viruses account for the majority of cases.
Epidemiology
peak incidence at 6 months - 3 years
more common in autumn
Features
stridor
barking cough (worse at night)
fever
coryzal symptoms

Acute epiglottitis
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. The incidence of epiglottitis has decreased since the introduction of the Hib vaccine

Features
rapid onset
unwell, toxic child
stridor
drooling of saliva

Inhaled foreign body
Symptoms depend on the site of impaction

Features are of sudden onset
coughing
choking
vomiting
stridor

Laryngomalacia
Congenital abnormality of the larynx.
Infants typical present at 4 weeks of age with:
stridor

Question 10

A concerned mother brings her 6-week old baby to your GP practice for their routine postnatal baby check. She is worried about his noisy breathing, which she reports has been worsening over the past few weeks. This baby was born at term with no complications. On examination, you hear an inspiratory stridor but no other abnormal lung sounds. Heart sounds are normal. Baby is alert and playful. There is no suggestion of any cyanosis. Baby has been growing and feeding normally. What is the most likely diagnosis?
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Foreign body
Allergy-induced wheeze
Cystic fibrosis
Laryngomalacia
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

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Answer 10

Laryngomalacia is a very common, benign cause of noisy breathing in infants
Important for meLess important
Laryngomalacia should be suspected in an otherwise well infant with noisy breathing. It is caused by a congenital softening of the cartilage of the larynx, causing collapse during inspiration. Laryngomalacia can present at birth, and worsens in the first few weeks of life. It usually self-resolves before 2 years of age.

Foreign body symptoms are acute in onset.

Cystic fibrosis is tested on neonatal heel prick. It is associated with faltering growth and meconium ileus.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia most often affects preterm infants who were treated with supplemental oxygen and ventilation.