What type of airway condition could lead to stridor?

• A. Normal airway health
• B. Acute bronchitis
• C. A narrowed or obstructed airway
• D. Clear and open airways

Answer: (C)

Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound typically associated with an obstruction or narrowing in the airway, particularly in the larynx or upper portion of the trachea. This sound occurs when there is turbulent airflow due to a constricted passage. Conditions that could lead to stridor often involve swelling, foreign objects, tumors, or any other obstruction that reduces the diameter of the airway.

When considering other options, having normal airway health or clear and open airways would not lead to stridor because the airflow would be unimpeded, resulting in normal breathing sounds. Acute bronchitis may cause wheezing or other sounds, but it primarily affects the lower airways and does not typically present with stridor, which is more characteristic of upper airway issues. Thus, a narrowed or obstructed airway is indeed the condition that would lead to stridor, making it the correct answer in this context.