AB242. SOH25_AB_102. Blue light and potato crisps: a case report

Background: Sleep-related laryngospasm (SRL) is rare in adults and even rarer in children. We present a case of a child with severe idiopathic recurrent night-time stridor referred by a paediatric respiratory team who was ultimately found to have SRL with a successful outcome on dietary management.

Case Description: This 13-year-old male presented with a one-year history of six episodes of severe stridor which had developed during sleep but persisted on awakening. Each one necessitated an immediate ambulance transfer to the local Emergency Department during the night with subsequent hospital admission. The episodes of stridor settled with general airway management but no cause had as of yet been found for his recurrent complaints. He had no airway issues otherwise and although found to have some lower respiratory tract inflammatory changes, none that could explain the intermittent acute airway obstruction during sleep. Closer questioning regarding his eating habits revealed that he regularly ate an entire large packet of potato crisps at bedtime. A tentative diagnosis of crisp-induced SRL was made. His mother was advised that he should avoid all late food within two to three hours of retiring and especially a diet that could be seen as reflux-inducing. He has not had an episode of nocturnal stridor in the two years since this management approach was recommended supporting the diagnosis of crisp precipitated SRL.

Conclusions: A look at the diet with specific attention to the timing, amount and type of late food if an unexplained SRL is encountered.

Keywords: Airway obstruction; dietary management; case report