Upper airway diseases have been characterized in the literature as limited to the pediatric population. From Chevalier Jackson's original description of laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) in 19361 to the present, this disease entity has remained a pediatric illness. LTB, or croup, is characterized by a barking cough, hoarseness, fever, and varying degrees of stridor. A literature review of adult upper airway disease revealed a small series of adult patients with LTB 2 and several cases of adult tracheitis. 3 Epiglottitis has also been reported almost exclusively in the pediatric population. Most recently, several case reports of adult epiglottitis have suggested that adult upper airway disease is increasing either by actual numbers or by improved reporting. 4,5The changes that occur during pregnancy affect every region of the body. There are several laryngologic manifestations of pregnancy. A condition known as laryngopathia gravidarum can affect changes of the laryngeal mucosa, including edema, mucosal drying, and occasional crusting. 6-8 These changes are most pronounced during the third trimester. 8 Sixty percent to 75% of pregnant women report hoarseness and or dyspnea. 6,8,9 High levels of estrogen in the pregnant woman have been implicated in increasing tissue hydration, edema, capillary congestion, and hyperplastic and hypersecretory mucous glands. 8 Obstetric complications caused by laryngeal edema are well documented in the literature and will be discussed below.

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