Tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia refer to chondromalacia of a central airway, leading to insufficient cartilage to maintain airway patency throughout the respiratory cycle. These are common causes of persistent wheezing in infancy. Tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia can be either primary or secondary…
Laryngotracheal stenosis is the second most common cause of stridor in neonates and is the most common cause of airway obstruction requiring tracheostomy in infants. The glottis (vocal cords) and the upper trachea are compromised in most laryngeal stenosis, particularly…
Epidemiology and Etiology Choking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children, especially those younger than 4 yr of age. Most victims of foreign body aspiration are older infants and toddlers ( Fig. 414.1 ); males have been found…
The larynx functions as a breathing passage, a valve to protect the lungs, and the primary organ of communication; symptoms of laryngeal anomalies are those of airway obstruction, noisy breathing, difficulty feeding, and abnormalities of phonation (see Chapter 400 ).…
Airway resistance is inversely proportional to the 4th power of the radius (see Chapter 400 ). Because the lumen of an infant's or child's airway is narrow, minor reductions in cross-sectional area as a result of mucosal edema or other…
Anatomy The Waldeyer ring (the lymphoid tissue surrounding the opening of the oral and nasal cavities into the pharynx) comprises the palatine tonsils, the pharyngeal tonsil or adenoid, lymphoid tissue surrounding the eustachian tube orifice in the lateral walls of…
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Pharyngitis refers to inflammation of the pharynx, including erythema, edema, exudates, or an enanthem (ulcers, vesicles). Pharyngeal inflammation can be related to environmental exposures, such as tobacco smoke, air pollutants, and allergens; from contact with caustic substances, hot food, and…
Sinusitis is a common illness of childhood and adolescence. There are 2 common types of acute sinusitis—viral and bacterial—with significant acute and chronic morbidity as well as the potential for serious complications. Fungal sinusitis is rare in immunocompetent patients but…
The common cold is an acute viral infection of the upper respiratory tract in which the symptoms of rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction are prominent. Systemic symptoms and signs such as headache, myalgia, and fever are absent or mild. The common…