A doctor can help diagnose you or your child with stridor, a restricted breathing condition. Treatments depend on a few factors, but a doctor may recommend medication or surgery.

Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow. Stridor may also be called musical breathing or extrathoracic airway obstruction.

Airflow is usually disrupted by a blockage in the larynx (voice box) or trachea (windpipe). Stridor affects children more often than adults.

There are three types of stridor. Each type can give your doctor a clue about what is causing it.

Inspiratory stridor

In this type, you can only hear the abnormal sound when you breathe in. This indicates an issue with the tissue above the vocal cords.

Expiratory stridor

People with this type of stridor only experience abnormal sounds when they breathe out. Blockage in the windpipe causes this type.

Biphasic stridor

This type causes the abnormal sound when a person breathes in and out. When the cartilage near the vocal cords narrows, it causes these sounds.

It is possible to develop stridor at any age. However, stridor is more common in children than adults because children’s airways are softer and narrower.

Stridor in adults

Stridor in adults is most commonly caused by the following conditions:

  • an object blocking the airway
  • swelling in your throat or upper airway
  • trauma to the airway, such as a fracture in the neck or an object stuck in the nose or throat
  • thyroid, chest, esophageal, or neck surgery
  • being intubated (having a breathing tube)
  • inhaling smoke
  • swallowing a harmful substance that causes damage to the airway
  • vocal cord paralysis
  • bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs
  • tonsillitis, an inflammation of the lymph nodes at the back of the mouth and top of the throat by viruses or bacteria
  • epiglottitis, an inflammation of the tissue covering the windpipe caused by the H. influenza bacterium
  • tracheal stenosis, a narrowing of the windpipe
  • tumors
  • abscesses, a collection of pus or fluid

Stridor in infants and children

In infants, a condition called laryngomalacia is usually the cause of stridor. Soft structures and tissues that obstruct the airway cause laryngomalacia.

It often goes away as your child ages and their airways harden. It may be quieter when your child is lying on their stomach, and louder when lying on their back.

Laryngomalacia is most noticeable when your child is about 6 months old. It may start as soon as a few days after birth. Stridor usually goes away by the time your child is 2 years old.

Other conditions that may cause stridor in infants and children include:

  • croup, which is a viral respiratory infection
  • subglottic stenosis, which occurs when the voice box is too narrow; many children outgrow this condition, though surgery may be necessary in severe cases
  • subglottic hemangioma, which occurs when a mass of blood vessels forms and obstructs the airway; this condition is rare and may require surgery
  • vascular rings, which occur when an outer artery or vein compresses the windpipe; surgery may release the compression.

Children have narrower, softer airways than adults do. They’re much more likely to develop stridor. To prevent further blockage, treat the condition immediately. If the airway is completely blocked, your child won’t be able to breathe.

Your doctor will try to find the cause of you or your child’s stridor. They’ll give you or your child a physical examination and ask questions about medical history.

Your doctor may ask questions about:

  • the sound of the abnormal breathing
  • when you first noticed the condition
  • other symptoms, such as a blue color in your face or your child’s face or skin
  • if you or your child has been ill recently
  • if your child could have put a foreign object in their mouth
  • if you or your child is struggling to breathe

Your doctor may also order tests, such as:

If your doctor suspects an infection, they’ll order a sputum culture. This test checks material you or your child cough up from the lungs for viruses and bacteria. It helps your doctor see if an infection, such as croup, is present.

Don’t wait to see if stridor goes away without medical treatment. Visit your doctor and follow their advice. Treatment options depend on the age and health of you or your child, as well as the cause and severity of the stridor.

Your doctor may:

  • refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist
  • provide oral or injected medication to decrease swelling in the airway
  • recommend hospitalization or surgery in severe cases
  • require more monitoring

Contact your doctor immediately if you see:

  • a blue color in you or your child’s lips, face, or body
  • signs of difficulty breathing, such as the chest collapsing inward
  • weight loss
  • trouble eating or feeding