stritor

Last reviewed 01/2018

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