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Stridor
System: Chest & Breathing Signs · All chest & breathing signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
A harsh, high-pitched sound heard mainly on breathing in, loudest over the neck, caused by narrowing of the upper airway.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with upper airway obstruction, such as croup, epiglottitis or an inhaled foreign body — an emergency sign in children.
Related signs — Chest & Breathing Signs
Browse the S section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.