One of the most common causes of Stridor in children. LM is a congenital deformity (the most common congenital larngeal abnormality) causing laxity of the epiglottis and supraglottic aperture with an accompanying weakness of the tracheal wall. This leads to varying degrees of airway collapse during inspiration. Males are affected twice as often as females. LARYNGOMALACIA (LM) One of the most common causes of Stridor in children. LM is a congenital deformity (the most common congenital larngeal abnormality) causing laxity of the epiglottis and supraglottic aperture with an accompanying weakness of the tracheal wall. This leads to varying degrees of airway collapse during inspiration. Males are affected twice as often as females. Clinically, LM presents as noisy, harsh inspiratory sounds that may not be very evident during the first 1 2 months of life (given that this type of breathing is very common in the first few months of life). The symptoms can be intermittent but become worse when the baby lies on his or her back. The symptoms can range from noisy breathing, “crowing”, hoarseness, dyspnea, and inspiratory retractions (in the supraclavicular, intercostal, or subcostal spaces). Patients with severe forms can have difficulty in nursing to result in general malnutrition and poor weight gain; the weight gain was not a problem with our pt given his premature birth and the “catching up” that he has done since. The stridor should, classically, slowly disappear as the child grows and develops; with normal maturation, the airway stiffens to take up the “extra slack” in the folds. LM DIAGNOSIS Established by direct laryngoscopy. Differential diagnosis should include malformations of the laryngeal cartilage or vocal cords, intraluminal webs, generalized severe chondromalacia of the larynx and trachea, tumors of the larynx, mucus retention cysts, thyroglossal duct cysts amongst others. LM PROGNOSIS Fairly good for this condition with the far majority of cases resolving completely by the age of 18 months. However, there may be some degree of inspiratory obstruction that persists but treatment is usually not required. LM TREATMENT Primarily involves supportive therapy and parental reassurance because this condition resolves spontaneously. Feedings should be slow and careful with attention to possible aspiration. Most infants seem more comfortable and “less noisy” in a prone position. Severe forms may require intubation but tracheostomy is rare. ASTHMA A discussion of a disorder must begin with a definition of that condition; however, with Asthma there is no universally accepted definition ! Asthma may be considered as a “diffuse, obstructive lung disease with (1) hyperactivity of the airways to a variety of stimuli and (2) a high degree of reversibility of the obstructive process, which may occur Quick Review: Laryngomalacia & Asthma 2 of 4 either spontaneously or as a result of treatment.”. This disease carries a variety of other names, including: Reactive Airway Disease, “Wheezy Bronchitis”, “Viralassociated wheezing”, and “Atopic related Asthma”, and “Chronic Desquamating Eosinophilic Bronchitis”. On a more-basic level, the pathophysiology involves two components: Bronchoconstriction;