Differential diagnoses of acute stridor
| Potential diagnosis | Signs and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Acute laryngotracheobronchitis | Prodromal symptoms: runny nose, mild fever, hoarse voice, barking cough followed by inspiratory stridor |
| Acute epiglottitis | High fever, toxic, drooling, extended neck |
| Bacterial tracheitis | Fever, toxic, productive chesty cough, recent history of croup |
| Inhaled foreign body (FB) | Sudden onset of wheeze and/or stridor, unilateral chest findings, FB seen on radiograph, overinflation of one lobe on X-ray |
| Angioneurotic oedema | History of exposure to allergen, swelling of face, lips, eyes, etc. Wheeze, rash |
| Diphtheria | Uncommon, incomplete immunisation history, coryzal, sore throat, pseudomembrane seen in the throat |
Adapted with permission from Paediatric Exams; A survival guide, Paul Gaon, Elsevier, 2004.