Foreign-body aspiration. Potential misdiagnosis

Abstract

Clandestine aspiration of foreign bodies lodged high in tracheal airway can mimic subglottic croup. Although this relationship is emphasized in textbooks of otolaryngology, documentation in the recent literature is lacking. This report underscores our awareness of a potentially lethal diagnosis masquerading as a more benign viral infection of the laryngotracheal airway.