AN ACUTE STRIDOR IN AN INFANT-A case report

Stridor is a coarse, usually higher-pitched breathing sound typically heard on inspiration. Stridor is a sign of upper airway (extra thoracic) obstruction and may indicate critical airway obstruction requiring immediate intervention (1). Clinical presentation of stridor in the emergency department has life and death written all over. Any critically ill child presenting with stridor, can potentially develop complete airway obstruction. Therefore this emergency requires a swift, systemic protocol based approach followed by skillful intervention (2). Retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal abscess presents with inspiratory stridor (3). Infection in the retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal spaces can result in airway compromise or posterior mediastinitis, making timely diagnosis important (4). We are presenting a case of retro and lateral pharyngeal abscess that compromised the airway.Proper diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention was done which helped in saving the life of this child.