Purushothaman Sudarshan

Stridor is an uncommon yet potentially serious symptom in neonates. It is indicative of airway obstruction. This short article describes how to approach a baby with stridor. Assessment and investigation should proceed in a structured manner. Important clues about the likely cause can be determined using a combination of a careful history and clinical examination. The character and nature of any stridor, combined with information about the onset of symptoms are particularly important.

Introduction Acute and chronic adenotonsillar disorders are among the most common reasons for consultations in Paediatrics, General Practice, Emergency Medicine and Otorhinolaryngology. Presenting symptoms and conditions include acute tonsillitis, quinsy, snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and nasal obstruction. There may also be sequelae of adenotonsillar disease such as deep neck space infection, acute otitis media (AOM), and otitis media with effusion (OME).