How much do you know about pediatric laryngeal wheezing

  Laryngeal stridor is a common clinical condition in neonates and even in infants. It is caused by laryngeal lesions that narrow the laryngeal cavity and cause airflow through the narrow lumen during breathing. The laryngeal wheeze is inspiratory if the lesion is above the vocal cords, and expiratory or dual if it is below the vocal cords, with inspiratory depressions in the neck, chest and upper abdomen in severe cases.  Children with small laryngeal cavity and loose surrounding tissues are most prone to laryngeal wheezing.  Congenital laryngeal flaccidity is the main cause of laryngeal wheezing in infancy, and current research suggests that it is mainly due to abnormal laryngeal anatomy in children, abnormal neuromuscular function of the larynx, and gastroesophageal reflux after feeding. The disease is characterized by normal breathing at birth and the gradual onset of inspiratory laryngeal wheeze soon after birth, which is mostly persistent or intermittently aggravated, even accompanied by inspiratory dyspnea, but no hoarseness in crying; in some children, the laryngeal wheeze is not obvious when the child is usually quiet, but occurs only after slight stimulation or activity; in others, the onset of the disease is position-related, aggravated when lying on the back and reduced when lying prone or on the side. Congenital laryngeal chondrosis is a self-limiting disease that decreases or eliminates with the development of cartilage as the child grows older, and most children’s symptoms gradually disappear within 2 years of age. However, parents should pay particular attention to the fact that some children with severe cases should seek medical attention in a timely manner, and can be cured surgically after a clear diagnosis through detailed examination. In order to avoid unnecessary risks and losses. As a parent, you should relieve your child’s worries and take good care of him/her. When the symptoms of laryngeal wheezing appear, you can relieve them by: adding supplementary food on time, avoiding crying and noise, maintaining a proper body position (avoiding vomiting after eating); paying attention to the prevention of respiratory infections to avoid inducing breathing difficulties.  The causes of laryngeal wheezing are not only laryngeal lesions, but also narrowing or pressure on any part of the mouth, pharynx and trachea, which can cause wheezing. The common causes include: 1. congenital laryngeal webbing: a congenital malformation of laryngeal development, most of which are covered by a thin film in front of the vocal folds, the shape of which is like the webbing of a duck’s palm, producing laryngeal wheezing when the airflow passes through the narrowed laryngeal cavity.  2, foreign body obstruction: as the name suggests is an exogenous foreign body obstruction in the larynx or airway, is a very dangerous disease, need emergency surgery to remove the foreign body, otherwise it will be life-threatening.  3.Acute laryngitis: It mostly develops in winter. Due to the special nature of children’s laryngeal anatomy, acute laryngitis in pediatric patients is prone to respiratory distress, so it should also be treated as early as possible.  4.Laryngeal muscle spasm: mostly occurs in children who are weak and stunted.  In conclusion, the etiology of pediatric laryngeal wheezing is complex. If a child has symptoms of laryngeal wheezing in life, especially if the child already has symptoms of respiratory distress, caregivers should not panic and seek medical attention early to avoid delaying treatment.