immediate management
Last reviewed 01/2018
- admit immediately to hospital
- don't examine throat - this is likely to provoke spasm and cause obstruction
- minimise distress to the child - don't separate from parents or give antibiotics
- contact the hospital so they can arrange a senior anaesthetist to intubate the patient and an ENT surgeon to perform a tracheostomy if needed
- nebulised adrenaline can be used
- go with the child to hospital if possible
- be prepared to do an emergency laryngotomy in case of obstruction
- when obstruction is imminent, stridor becomes ominously quieter
ref: H/B Emergencies in Gen Pract 2e 1997, N Lawrence et al