Fifteen-minute consultation: Approach to the infant with stridor and suspected laryngomalacia

Stridor in an infant is a significant clinical sign; the primary objectives are to ensure that the airway is safe and to arrange timely, appropriate management. A structured history, examination and targeted investigations will determine the cause and guide care. Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in an infant. The stridor tends to start shortly after birth, classically presenting as a positional stridor in the first month, which gradually resolves before 12-18 months of age in mild cases. There is a wide spectrum of severity; few require surgical intervention. This article will outline how the infant is appropriately assessed and managed.