[Etiology of acute upper respiratory tract obstruction in infants: analysis of 12 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To study the etiology of acute upper respiratory tract obstruction in infants.

METHODS

The medical data of 12 infants with acute upper respiratory tract obstruction were retrospectively reviewed. The patients received the examinations of laryngoscopy and CT scans for larynx and lungs.

RESULTS

All of the 12 infants presented with laryngeal stridor. Eight infants (67%) were diagnosed as congenital simple laryngeal stridor before admission. Based on the clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging examinations and laryngoscopy, 4 (33%) were definitely diagnosed with thyroglossal ductal cyst, 1(8%) with abscess-emphysema in the posterior wall of pharynx, 1(8%) with cervicallymphangioma, 2 (16%) with subglottic stenosis, and 4 (33%) with acute laryngitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute upper respiratory tract obstruction is easily misdiagnosed in infants. Thyroglossal duct cyst is a common cause of upper respiratory tract obstruction/laryngeal stridor. It is recommend that laryngoscopy and CT scans for larynx should be performed in infants with laryngeal stridor.