STRIDOR IN CHILDREN

Course overview

STRIDOR IS AN ABNORMAL, HIGH-PITCHED RESPIRATORY SOUND PRODUCED BY IRREGULAR AIRFLOW IN A NARROWED AIRWAY DURING THE INSPIRATION PHASE. STRIDOR CAN RESULT FROM VARIOUS CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED CONDITIONS. DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS CONDITION IS AIDED BY CONSIDERING THE PATIENT'S AGE AND THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. IN CASES OF DIAGNOSTIC UNCERTAINTY, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS MAY PERFORM X-RAYS OR BRONCHOSCOPY ON PATIENTS TO DETERMINE THE ETIOLOGY OF STRIDOR—A MANIFESTATION OF AN UNDERLYING PATHOLOGY THAT REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE PATIENT HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND INFANTS, EVEN MINOR INFLAMMATION CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT AND RAPID AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. THEREFORE, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS MUST HAVE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF STRIDOR AND BE HIGHLY SKILLED IN EVALUATING AND ADDRESSING COMPROMISED AIRWAYS WHILE COMPREHENDING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE CONDITION. THIS TOPIC DELVES INTO THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF STRIDOR WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE INTEGRAL ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.