Stritor

Stertor is noisy breathing caused by partial obstruction of the respiratory tract above the larynx

Aetiology

• congenital causes include:
  • nose
    • choanal stenosis or atresia
    • external nasal deformity secondary to craniofacial abnormality
    • dermoid, nasoalveolar, dentigerous and mucous cysts
    • meningocele, encephalocele, meningoencephalocele
  • nasopharynx
    • craniofacial abnormality, especially Apert's syndrome and Crouzon's disease
  • oropharynx
    • micrognathia secondary to a craniofacial abnormality, especially Treacher Collins syndrome
  • macroglossia, most frequently in those with Down's syndrom
  • lingual thyroid and thyroglossal cyst
• acquired causes include:
  • trauma
    • septal haematoma and secondary abscess
  • nasal, septal and midfacial fracture
  • inflammatory
    • infective acute and chronic rhinitis
    • acute and chronic adenoiditis
    • acute tonsillitis, especially secondary to infectious mononucleosis
  • parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess
  • ludwig's angina
  • acute epiglottitis
  • Wegener's granulomatosis