What is a common cause of stridor in infants?

Laryngomalacia is indeed a common cause of stridor in infants. This condition is characterized by the soft, floppy tissue above the vocal cords, which can collapse inward during inhalation, resulting in a high-pitched wheezing sound known as stridor. It is often most noticeable when the infant is agitated or crying, and it usually becomes more pronounced when the infant is on their back. The condition is generally benign and self-resolving as the child grows and the tissues become more rigid, typically resolving by the age of 12 to 18 months.

Understanding laryngomalacia as a common etiology for stridor in infants is crucial for clinical practice. Unlike laryngomalacia, throat infections can lead to stridor but are less common in infants compared to the structural issues seen in laryngomalacia. Allergic reactions can also cause stridor, but these reactions are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as hives or swelling and are less frequently the sole cause of stridor. Inhaled foreign bodies can lead to acute stridor as well, but they often present in older children and are generally associated with a specific incident of choking. Thus, laryngomalacia stands out as the most prevalent and typical cause of str