Abstract:

Objective   To summarize the cause of inspiratory laryngeal stridor in infants in order to make accurate diagnosis and treatment of the disease． Methods   The medical records of 256 cases of patients 1ess than 2 years with presenting symptoms of stridor initially evaluated in the outpatient setting of otorhinolaryngological department from July 2009 to July 2012 were reviewed． The causes of stridor were clarified by examinations of flexible laryngoscopy in awake， throat three-dimensional CT (MRI)and bronchoscopy in all cases． Results   162 cases(63.3％, 162/256) were diagnosed as congenital airway abnomalities for cause of stridor including 153(59.8％， 153／256)congenital laryngeal abnormalities and 9 (3.5％， 9／256)congenital tracheal abnormalities． The most congenital laryngeal anomaly was laryngomalacia(151， 60.0％， 151／256) ．The most congenital tracheal abnormalities was tracheomalacia(7， 2.7％， 7／256)． Another 50 cases(19.5％， 50／256)were diagnosed as spaceoccupying lesions for cause of stridor. 11 cases(4.3%,11/256) were diagnosed as neurological diseasevocal cord paralysis.7 cases(2.7％， 7／256)were diagnosed as foreign body in airway and 26 cases(10.2％, 26／256)were respiratory infection．  Conclusion   Congenital airway strucunal abnormality is a major cause of infant laryngeal tridor． Laryngomalacia is still a major cause of infant inspiratory stridor which is spontaneously resolved． Other throat lesions are also important and should be diagnosed and treated in time． The principle of treatment is relief of symptoms by different therapeutic protocols according to different etiological factors.

Key words: Laryngomalacia, Infant, Inspiratory laryngeal stridor