What is an early sign of airway obstruction in edema or allergic reaction?

• A. Normal voice
• B. Rapid capillary refill
• C. Stridor and hoarseness
• D. Clear breath sounds

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing upper airway narrowing from edema or an allergic reaction. When the airway above the vocal cords starts to swell, airflow becomes turbulent as you breathe in, producing a high-pitched, wheezy or squeaky sound called stridor. The voice often becomes hoarse because the vocal cords are affected by the swelling. These changes are early indicators that the airway is at risk of obstruction.

Normal voice suggests the vocal cords aren’t affected yet, so it’s not an early sign of airway compromise. Rapid capillary refill points to perfusion status, not airway patency. Breath sounds can be clear even with early upper airway narrowing, because the problem is above the lower airways; lungs may sound normal while the upper airway is closing. Therefore stridor and hoarseness best reflect an early airway obstruction in edema or an allergic reaction.