A condition in which breathing is made difficult by softness of the larynx, occurring mainly in children under the age of two.
The most common problem of the larynx (voice box) in infancy. As a result of soft or deformed cartilage or muscular weakness, portions of the upper part of the larynx collapse into the air¬ way, causing a partial obstruction. The baby will make a wheezing or hoarse breathing sound known as stridor and may have some degree of difficulty breathing. The disease appears in the first few weeks of life and typically goes away in the first few months. Only rarely is treatment needed to keep open the child’s airway.