ABSTRACT
Most of the conditions described in this chapter present with respiratory difficulty. The precise manifestation of this depends on the anatomical level of the lesion (Table 31.1). Conditions affecting the nasal airway and pharynx tend to produce obstructive apnoea; those of the larynx, inspiratory
stridor; and those of the trachea, biphasic stridor. Lung lesions present with respiratory distress without obstructive features. All grades of severity of these features may be encountered. Although many of these conditions may produce mild symptoms that may be self-limiting, in their severe forms they can cause death or cerebral damage from hypoxia.
