Respiratory emergencies in infants and young children.

Emergencies involving the respiratory tract are not uncommonly encountered in infants and young children. The spectrum of disorders causing respiratory distress varies from self-limited disorders such as bronchiolitis to potentially life-threatening conditions such as acute epiglottitis. This article outlines the clinical manifestations of some of the common respiratory emergencies presenting in infants (beyond the neonatal period) and young children, as well as strategies for management.