Stridor in an infant with myelomeningocele

Joshua Nagler1, Jason A Levy, Richard G Bachur

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Joshua.Nagler@childrens.harvard.edu

Insights

Stridor in infants can signal serious conditions. Ultrasound successfully diagnosed Chiari crisis in an infant with myelomeningocele presenting with stridor.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Stridor is a frequent pediatric emergency department complaint with a wide differential diagnosis.
  • Evaluation and management depend on suspected causes and clinical urgency.

Observation:

  • A case report details an infant with myelomeningocele presenting with stridor.
  • The infant's symptoms prompted an emergency department visit.

Findings:

  • Ultrasound was utilized as a diagnostic tool.
  • Chiari crisis was identified as the cause of the infant's stridor.

Implications:

  • This case highlights ultrasound's utility in diagnosing Chiari crisis in infants with stridor.
  • Early diagnosis of Chiari crisis is crucial for appropriate management in pediatric patients.

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