Aetiological profile of paediatric laryngeal stridor in an Indian hospital

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Otolaryngology
• Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

• Stridor is a common respiratory symptom in infants and children.
• Understanding the etiology and clinical profile of stridor is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical profile of pediatric stridor.
• To identify the common causes and management outcomes of stridor in children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 180 case records of infants and children presenting with stridor.
• Categorization of stridor into acute and chronic, and etiological classification into congenital and acquired.

Main Results:

• Acute stridor cases were more frequent than chronic cases.
• Acquired causes (67.8%) were more prevalent than congenital causes (32.2%).
• Laryngomalacia was the most common congenital cause (19.4%), while laryngotracheobronchitis and diphtheria were leading infectious causes (35%). Tracheostomy was performed in 25% of cases, primarily for bilateral abductor paralysis.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the predominance of acute stridor and acquired etiologies in the pediatric population.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering both congenital and acquired conditions, including infectious causes and specific indications for tracheostomy, in managing pediatric stridor.
• The unique challenges in developing countries influencing stridor management are discussed.