Stridor In Children: Diagnosis, Complications And Treatment

Stridor is a condition where air moves through a constricted or partially occluded airway, causing a noisy, harsh, vibratory, or high-pitched breathing sound. Stridor in children may be a symptom of an airway issue rather than a disease.

Croup is the most prevalent cause of acute stridor in children, while laryngomalacia is the most common cause of chronic stridor. If your child develops stridor, seek medical help right away, regardless of whether other signs and symptoms are present.

Read on to learn about the many types of stridor and the causes, symptoms, complications, diagnosis, and treatment options in children.

Types Of Stridor

Stridor can be of the following types depending on the timing and sound of your child’s breathing (1).

• Inspiratory stridor: This occurs when the child breathes in (inhalation) and often occurs when the tissue above the vocal cords is affected.

• Expiratory stridor: This happens during exhalation (breathing out) and usually indicates a problem in the respiratory tract below the trachea (windpipe).

• Biphasic stridor: This is heard during exhalation and inhalation and is often due to the narrowing of the subglottis, the cartilage below the vocal cords. 

Risk Factors And Causes Of Stridor In Children

Stridor can be caused by any process that narrows or obstructs the airways. Young children can have congenital stridor due to congenital disorders (problems present at birth), whereas older children may develop stridor due to infections, trauma, or foreign body aspiration. The following are some causes of stridor in children (2).

• Foreign body aspiration, including food or other objects, can cause acute stridor in children. Cough and shortness of breath are associated with stridor caused by foreign bodies stuck in the larynx or trachea (windpipe). Acute onset of stridor following a choking spell is normally an indication that a foreign body has been aspirated.

The following conditions affecting the nose and pharynx can cause stridor in children.

• Choanal atresia is a rare congenital abnormality of the nose where the tissue blocks the airway. Unilateral choanal atresia may not cause symptoms until obstruction of the other side occurs.

• A lingual thyroid or thyroglossal cyst can cause airway obstruction and stridor in children.

• Macroglossia, a condition in which the tongue is larger than normal, may obstruct the airway. This may often be seen in children with Down syndrome, glycogen storage disease, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and congenital hypothyroidism.

• Micrognathia refers to a condition in which the lower jaw is undersized. It can obstruct airways due to displacement of the tongue. In this condition, the stridor may worsen in the supine position.

• Retropharyngeal or peritonsillar abscess may cause edema of the upper airway and result in stridor. This condition is often associated with drooling, dysphagia, and fever, and the child may have a stiff neck and find trouble opening their mouth. This condition is a medical emergency and should be treated at a medical facility with trained , experienced personnel.

• Hypertrophic tonsils or adenoids can also obstruct the upper airway. The stridor may often be noticed during sleep in this condition. This would be an indication for possible removal of the tissues involved.

Laryngeal abnormalities that can cause stridors in children include the following.

• Laryngomalacia occurs due to delayed maturation or defects of the structures supporting the larynx. A displacement of the underdeveloped supporting structures causes partial airway obstruction, resulting in inspiratory stridor. This is the most common cause of chronic stridor in younger children and may worsen while crying, when in a supine position, or when a respiratory infection occurs. Typically teh stridor here will be positional – so turning the baby on the tummy will lessen the stridor.

• Laryngotracheobronchitis (viral croup) is the common cause of acute inspiratory stridor in children. Parainfluenza virus (most common), influenza virus type A or B, rhinoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common causes of viral croup in children. Stridor may be preceded by several days of respiratory tract infection followed by cough and fever. This can worsen at night and while crying.

• Laryngocele or cyst and laryngeal web may cause airway obstruction and lead to stridor in young children.

• Spasmodic croup or acute spasmodic laryngitis can mimic viral croup, and it is triggered by allergy, GERD, or psychological factors.

• Epiglottitis, usually caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B, can cause stridor and is often associated with fever, shortness of breath, and drooling in children. This is a medical emergency that needs specialized care.

• Vocal cord paralysis occurs due to recurrent disruption to the laryngeal nerves. It can cause biphasic stridor in children.

• Laryngeal stenosis is a congenital or acquired narrowing of the larynx that can partially obstruct the airways. Trauma, gastroesophageal reflux, and external compression are common causes of acquired stenosis.

• Laryngeal papilloma, caused by the papillomavirus at birth, is the most common laryngeal tumor. This may cause stridor and hoarseness of voice in children.

• Angioneurotic edema can result in the acute swelling of the upper airway and lead to shortness of breath and stridor.

• Laryngospasm associated with hypocalcemic tetany can cause stridor. This can be associated with tremors, carpopedal spasms (hand and feet spasms), and twitching. This is rare.

The following conditions that affect the trachea may cause stridor in children.

• Tracheomalacia is the abnormal collapse of the trachea due to the collapse of structures supporting the trachea. Flaccid tracheal structures can narrow the airway during expiration and lead to stridor. Also, respiratory tract infections can worsen the stridor in children.

• Bacterial tracheitis, also called membranous croup or bacterial croup is the bacterial infection of the trachea caused by Staphylococcus aureus, H. influenzae type b, or Moraxella catarrhalis. High fever and respiratory distress can also be present with stridors in bacterial croup.

• External compression of the trachea can cause stridor. For example, vascular anomalies such as double aortic arch and anomalous left carotid artery can cause tracheal compression. Further, cysts, lymphadenopathy, and tumors can also compress the trachea in young children.

Structural airway defects present at birth, injury to the neck or jaw, and being on breathing machines (mechanical ventilators) for a long time may increase the risk of stridors in children (3).

Symptoms Of Stridor In Children

Noisy breathing is the characteristic symptom of stridor. The sound and type of stridor may vary depending on the cause and where the airway is obstructed. Children with congenital stridor may face eating or drinking difficulties, leading to poor weight gain (4).

Stridor due to upper respiratory tract infections can be associated with fever and other respiratory symptoms. The following signs are often associated with stridor due to severe airway obstruction(3) (5).

• Choking
• Bluish skin (cyanosis)
• Gasping for air
• Widened nostrils while breathing
• Chest retractions
• Behavioral changes
• Unconsciousness

Call a pediatrician immediately if your child has any symptoms of stridor.

Complications Of Stridor In Children

The upper airways of children are narrower and shorter than that of adults; and thus, children are more prone to airway blockage than adults. If left untreated, severe airway obstruction can be life-threatening or even cause death in children (6).

Children with congenital stridor can have airway compromise and respiratory failure over time. This may also cause failure to thrive (FTT) in young children due to the increased work for breathing (7).

Diagnosis Of Stridor In Children

Pediatricians may do physical examinations and obtain the health history of children with stridor. Examination with a stethoscope helps identify the type of stridor. In some cases, diagnosis can be made clinically without any specific tests. Doctors may refer the child to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) specialist if required. The following tests are often ordered to identify the cause (5).

• X-rays of the chest and neck
• MRI or CT scans of the chest and neck
• Spirometry to measure the amount of air inhaled and exhaled and how quickly air is exhaled
• Laryngoscopy to check the back of the throat and larynx
• Bronchoscopy to check the throat, larynx, trachea, and bronchi (tubes in lungs)
• Pulse oximetry using a sensor on the finger or toe to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood
• Sputum culture to look for infections

Foreign bodies are often removed during bronchoscopy. Pediatricians may choose diagnostic tests based on the clinical features. If the diagnosis is clinically croup then most of those cases might not even need any further investigations.

Treatment For Stridor In Children

Treatment options may vary depending on the cause, symptoms, severity, child’s age, and health status. Severe stridor may require hospitalization and emergency surgeries. The treatment options may include (7).

• Oral medications or injections to decrease airway swelling or infections causing stridor. Some children may receive antibiotic therapy or steroid therapy, depending on the conditions.
• In the case of stridor nebulised/inhaled medications might also be used.
• Bronchoscopy is often used to remove the foreign body from the airways.

Some children with severe stridor may require tracheostomy to maintain air circulation. This procedure helps bypass the upper airway defects. The following conditions that cause stridor may require surgical care.

• Laryngeal and tracheal stenosis
• Severe laryngomalacia
• Tracheal and laryngeal tumors and lesions such as laryngeal hemangiomas and papillomas
• Forign body aspiration

Close monitoring and follow-ups are recommended for children with stridor due to congenital anomalies to look for disease progression.

References

Was this article helpful?

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.

Reviewer

Dr. Wayne HoughMBChB, MMed, FC Paeds

 

Dr. Wayne Hough is a pediatrician with around six years of experience in the field. He is currently based in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa. Dr. Hough got his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch.

Read full bio of Dr. Wayne Hough