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Pediatric airway obstruction happens when a child’s airway becomes narrowed and airflow is restricted. This often results in stridor, a high‑pitched, noisy breathing sound. Stridor is not a disease—it’s a symptom of an underlying airway disorder. Below are the four most common causes of pediatric stridor and how CEENTA specialists diagnose and treat them.
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Laryngomalacia accounts for 65% of stridor in babies. It occurs when the tissues of the larynx are soft or floppy, causing them to fall inward during inhalation. This creates the characteristic squeaky or high‑pitched stridor.
Diagnosis is made with a flexible laryngoscopy performed in the office. Most cases resolve by 18–24 months without intervention. Treating reflux often helps symptoms improve.
Severe cases involving apnea, turning blue, or poor weight gain may require minimally invasive surgery performed by CEENTA’s fellowship‑trained pediatric ENT specialists.
Vocal fold paralysis causes about 20% of childhood stridor. It occurs when nerve damage prevents one or both vocal folds from moving.
Diagnostic tools include flexible laryngoscopy, laryngeal EMG, and MRI. Unilateral paralysis may improve over time. When needed, CEENTA offers:
Bilateral paralysis usually requires immediate surgical management, often including tracheotomy.
Subglottic stenosis occurs when the airway becomes narrowed below the vocal cords due to congenital or acquired causes. It accounts for 10% of pediatric stridor.
Because children have smaller, shorter, and differently shaped airways, they require dedicated pediatric ENT expertise.
Open-airway reconstruction:
Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery:
Recovery depends on the child’s age and medical history. Some children may need short-term breathing support or speech therapy.
A subglottic hemangioma is a benign growth of blood vessels beneath the vocal cords. It represents fewer than 5% of pediatric stridor cases but can significantly obstruct the airway.
Diagnosis involves flexible laryngoscopy and confirmation with microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. Treatment options include:
CEENTA has ear, nose, and throat doctors who specialize in pediatric airway care in SouthPark and Belmont. If your child has stridor or noisy breathing, our team can help determine the cause and develop a personalized treatment plan.
