by Admin | Mar 5, 2014 | Featured, First Aid
Stridor is a loud, abnormal, high-pitched wheezing sound caused by a disruption in the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe). It mainly occurs in children during inspiration (inhalation) but may also be heard during expiration (exhalation). It is more common in children due to their narrower, softer airways as compared to adults. Stridor may either be present at birth (congenital), from an infection or due to trauma. Stridor in itself is not a diagnosis or disease but a sign of a blockage in the airway. Immediate treatment of the cause is necessary to avoid complete obstruction of airway. Complete blockage of airway may result to inability to breathe. Stridor is also called “abnormal breathing sounds,” “musical breathing,” or “extrathoracic airway obstruction.” Types of Stridor The timing and the sound heard during the child’s respiration can help determine the underlying cause or airway problem: Inspiratory stridor Occurs during inhalation Indicative of a collapse in the tissue above the vocal cords Expiratory stridor Occurs during exhalation Indicative of a problem below the trachea (located under the larynx) Biphasic stridor Occurs during both inhalation and expiration Causes of Stridor The blockage in the airway may be caused by the swelling of the tissues in the throat,upper airway muscle or vocal cord spasm, or blockage of an object. The following are the more specific causes of stridor: Congenital causes: Laryngomalacia (most common cause in infants) Subglottic stenosis Subglottic hemangomia Vascular rings Infectious causes Croup Epiglottis Bronchitis Severe tonsillitis Tracheitis Abscess in the back of the throat Traumatic causes: Presence of foreign bodies in the ear, nose or anywhere along the airway tract Fractures...
