High pitched crowing sound which can be present during inspirations and expiration

CAUSES

Inspiratory stridor

• Acute epiglottitis

• Croup

• Vocal cord dysfunction

• Foreign body

• Neck surgery

• Trauma

• Pharyngeal muscle weakness-   Bulbar / Pseudobulbar palsy

• Tracheal pathology- (Tracheal tumour/ Tracheal web/ Tracheomalacia/Endotracheal intubation/ Tracheostomy)

• Laryngeal pathology – (Acute or Chronic laryngitis/ Laryngeal tumour/ Laryngeal web/ Laryngeal cyst) 

• Pharyngeal pathology – (Retropharyngeal abscess/  Tonsillar/ Adenoid hypertrophy/ Peritonsillar abscess)

• Angioedema

• Anaphylaxis

• Burns

• Smoke inhalation

• Goitre

• Lymphadenopathy- (Malignancy/ Sarcoidosis/ Lymphoproliferative disease)

• Wegener’s granulomatosis

• Aortic arch aneurysm

Expiratory stridor

• Foreign body

• Bronchial carcinoma

• Bronchial stenosis- Tuberculous stricture

• Lymphadenopathy

• Lymphoproliferative diseases

• Tuberculosis

INVESTIGATIONS TO CONSIDER IN STRIDOR

• AP and Lateral chest and neck X Rays

• Lung function tests

• Direct Laryngoscopy and Bronchoscopy

• CT Chest