Summary
Stridor (Latin for "creaking or grating noise") is a high-pitched extra-thoracic breath sound resulting from turbulent air flow in the larynx or lower in the bronchial tree. It is different from a stertor which is a noise originating in the pharynx. Stridor is a physical sign which is caused by a narrowed or obstructed airway. It can be inspiratory, expiratory or biphasic, although it is usually heard during inspiration. Inspiratory stridor often occurs in children with croup. It may be indicative of serious airway obstruction from severe conditions such as epiglottitis, a foreign body lodged in the airway, or a laryngeal tumor. Stridor should always command attention to establish its cause. Visualization of the airway by medical experts equipped to control the airway may be needed. Stridor may occur as a result of: foreign bodies (e.g., aspirated foreign body, aspirated food bolus); infections (e.g., epiglottitis, retropharyngeal abscess, croup); subglottic stenosis (e.g., following prolonged intubation or congenital); airway edema (e.g., following instrumentation of the airway, tracheal intubation, drug side effect, allergic reaction); laryngospasm (from aspiration, GERD, or complication of anesthesia) subglottic hemangioma (rare); vascular rings compressing the trachea; thyroiditis such as Riedel's thyroiditis; vocal cord palsy; tracheomalacia or tracheobronchomalacia (e.g., collapsed trachea). congenital anomalies of the airway are present in 87% of all cases of stridor in infants and children. vasculitis. infectious mononucleosis peritonsillar abscess Laryngeal edema is a common cause of stridor post extubation (occurring from pressure of the endotracheal tube on the mucosa as a result of endotracheal tube that is too large (e.g. pediatrics), cuff over inflation, and prolonged intubation times.); tumor (e.g., laryngeal papillomatosis, squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, trachea or esophagus); ALL (T-cell ALL can present with mediastinal mass that compresses the trachea and causes inspiratory stridor) Stridor is mainly diagnosed on the basis of history and physical examination, with a view to revealing the underlying problem or condition.
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Related concepts (11)
Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis is the inflammation of the epiglottis—the flap at the base of the tongue that prevents food entering the trachea (windpipe). Symptoms are usually rapid in onset and include trouble swallowing which can result in drooling, changes to the voice, fever, and an increased breathing rate. As the epiglottis is in the upper airway, swelling can interfere with breathing. People may lean forward in an effort to open the airway. As the condition worsens, stridor and bluish skin may occur.
Breathing
Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellular respiration, which extracts energy from the reaction of oxygen with molecules derived from food and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. Breathing, or "external respiration", brings air into the lungs where gas exchange takes place in the alveoli through diffusion.
Croup
Croup, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, is a type of respiratory infection that is usually caused by a virus. The infection leads to swelling inside the trachea, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classic symptoms of "barking/brassy" cough, inspiratory stridor and a hoarse voice. Fever and runny nose may also be present. These symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe. Often it starts or is worse at night and normally lasts one to two days.
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