An Unusual Cause for Intermittent Stridor and Dysphagia in an Infant

Sydney E Ryan, Larissa Beyerlein1, Justin H Lee

  • 1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Insights

Stridor in infants is often caused by common conditions like laryngomalacia. For atypical cases, neck X-rays and sometimes bronchoscopy help diagnose the cause of this upper airway noise.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Stridor, a high-pitched breathing sound, is a frequent symptom in young children.
  • It results from turbulent airflow in the upper airway or trachea.
  • Common causes in infants (<12 months) include laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, croup, foreign body aspiration, and retropharyngeal abscess.

Observation:

  • Atypical presentations of stridor may require advanced diagnostic imaging.
  • Soft tissue neck radiographs are a valuable tool for identifying the cause of stridor when the presentation is unusual.

Findings:

  • Radiographic evaluation can aid in determining the etiology of stridor.
  • In some cases, bronchoscopy may be necessary for definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.

Implications:

  • Early and accurate diagnosis of stridor is crucial for appropriate management in pediatric patients.
  • Utilizing imaging like neck radiographs can guide further interventions, potentially avoiding more invasive procedures.

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