Congenital Laryngeal Stridor /
Laryngomalacia
What is congenital laryngeal stridor?Congenital laryngeal stridor (also called laryngomalacia)
results from a congenital (present at birth) anomaly of the larynx (voice
box). A weakness in the structures in the larynx, can cause stridor.
Stridor is a high-pitched sound that is heard best when the child breaths
in (inspiration).
What causes congenital laryngeal stridor?Congenital laryngeal stridor is a defect that is present at
birth. During fetal development, the structures in the larynx may not
fully develop. As a result, there is a weakness in these structures at
birth, causing them to collapse during breathing. In children, congenital
laryngeal stridor is the most common cause of chronic stridor. Sixty
percent of infants born with congenital laryngeal stridor will have
symptoms in the first week of life. Most other infants will show symptoms
by 5 weeks old.
What are the symptoms of congenital laryngeal
stridor?The major symptom of this disorder is the stridor that is heard
as the infant breathes. The stridor is usually heard when the infant
breathes in (inspiration), but can also be heard when the infant breaths
out (expiration). Other characteristics of the stridor may include:
- The stridor changes with activity.
- The stridor is usually less noisy when the child is laying on
his/her stomach.
- The stridor gets worse if the infant has an upper respiratory
infection.
The symptoms of congenital laryngeal stridor may resemble other
conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for
a diagnosis.
How is congenital laryngeal stridor diagnosed?In addition to a complete medical history and physical
examination, diagnostic procedures for congenital laryngeal stridor may
include bronchoscopy of the airways - a procedure which involves a tube
being passed into the airways to allow your child's physician to observe
the airways during breathing.
Treatment for congenital laryngeal stridor:In most cases, congenital laryngeal stridor is a harmless
condition that resolves on its own, without medical intervention. The
condition usually improves by the time the infant is 18 months old and has
no long-term complications. In some cases, the stridor is apparent until
about the age of 5. Each child's case is unique. About 10 to 22 percent
develop severe respiratory problems which require medical and surgical
interventions.
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