Stridor is not always croup

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

• Respiratory distress and stridor are frequent emergency department complaints in children.
• Common causes include bronchiolitis and croup, often leading to a presumptive diagnosis.
• A broad differential diagnosis is crucial for accurate pediatric respiratory assessment.

Observation:

• A child presented to the emergency department with stridor.
• Initial assessment considered common pediatric respiratory conditions.
• A high index of suspicion was maintained for less typical etiologies.

Findings:

• The child's stridor was ultimately attributed to an airway hemangioma.
• This diagnosis was not immediately apparent, underscoring diagnostic challenges.
• Airway hemangiomas represent an uncommon cause of pediatric stridor.

Implications:

• Clinicians must maintain vigilance for rare causes of pediatric stridor.
• Prompt diagnosis of airway hemangioma is essential for appropriate management.
• This case emphasizes the need for thorough evaluation beyond common diagnoses.