Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis
Pediatric subglottic stenosis occurs when a child’s airway becomes narrow in the larynx (voice box). The larynx is located above the trachea (windpipe) and below the vocal cords (subglottis). It often affects a child’s voice.
What is Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis?
Pediatric subglottic stenosis occurs when a child’s airway becomes too narrow at the cricoid cartilage (ring of cartilage in the airway), located above the trachea and below the vocal cords. The cricoid cartilage is the only spot in the airway that is made completely of cartilage.
What are the different types of Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis?
There are two types of subglottic stenosis:
Congenital subglottic stenosis
Congenital subglottic stenosis is a child is born with narrowing in their airway and can be associated with other genetic conditions like Down syndrome.
Acquired subglottic stenosis
Acquired subglottic stenosis occurs most often from scarring in the child’s larynx after surgery and/or long intubation (plastic tubing in the trachea to assist breathing).
What are the signs and symptoms of Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis?
Children with subglottic stenosis often have the following symptoms:
Breathing difficulty or distress
Cough
Inability to run or exercise
Recurrent croup
Shortness of breath or noisy breathing
Pediatric Subglottic Stenosis Doctors and Providers
