Acute stridor in children

Stridor is a harsh, vibratory sound produced when the airway becomes partially obstructed, resulting in turbulent airflow in the respiratory passages. It is symptomatic of underlying path-ology and may herald life-threatening airway obstruction. This article reviews the assess-ment, common causes, and treatment of a child with a previously normal airway presenting with acute stridor. Anatomy and physiology Several anatomical and physiological features of the respiratory system in infants (age,1 yr) and young children render them susceptible to airway obstruction. The upper and lower airways are small, prone to occlusion b