Clinical grades of stridor.
1.Grade 1 (Exertional stridor) :Stridor appears during crying or exercise.
2.Grade 2 (Continuous stridor or stridor at rest) :
Stridor is present at rest & become worse with exertion.
3.Grade 3 (Stridor with retractions) :
Stridor is continuous & accompanied with suprasternal& supraclavicular retractions. The patient looks anxious, irritable, struggling for breathing.
4.Grade 4 (Stridor with cyanosis) :
In addition to continuous stridor & retractions, cyanosis& altered consciousness occur denoting severe respiratory failure. ET intubation may be considered.