This tool is currently under development. Features and accuracy are being refined. Please report any issues or suggestions.
⚕️ Educational Purposes Only - Not Medical Advice
This interactive visualizer is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have learned from this tool. If you think your child may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Pediatric Airway Visualizer
Interactive demonstration of Asthma, Bronchiolitis, and Croup physiology.
Airway Status
Parent Education Guide
1 Asthma Attack
Age: Any age, often diagnosed after age 5
Main Problem:
- Constriction: The muscles around the airway tighten (Bronchospasm).
- Inflammation: The linings of the airway swell up.
- Location: Lower airways (bronchioles)
Symptoms: Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath
Treatment: Albuterol helps the muscle relax immediately, but it does NOT fix the swelling. That is why the controller medication (inhaled steroids) is important for prevention.
2 Bronchiolitis
Age: Usually under 2 years old (peak: 3-6 months)
Main Problem:
- Mucus: Lots of sticky secretions blocking the tube.
- Inflammation: Swelling of the walls from viral infection (RSV).
- Location: Small airways (bronchioles)
Symptoms: Rapid breathing, wheezing, nasal congestion, poor feeding
Treatment: Albuterol often doesn't work well here because the problem is mucus and swelling, not just muscle tightness. Supportive care (hydration, suctioning) is key.
3 Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)
Age: 6 months to 3 years (peak: 1-2 years)
Main Problem:
- Subglottic Swelling: Inflammation below the vocal cords narrows the upper airway.
- Cause: Usually viral (parainfluenza virus)
- Location: Upper airway (larynx, trachea)
Symptoms: Barking "seal-like" cough, stridor (harsh sound when breathing in), worse at night
Treatment: Dexamethasone (steroid) is the gold standard to reduce swelling. Nebulized epinephrine provides quick but temporary relief in severe cases. Cool mist has limited evidence but may provide comfort.
⚠️ Key Differences to Remember
Croup affects the UPPER airway (you hear stridor). Asthma and bronchiolitis affect the LOWER airways (you hear wheezing).
Bronchiolitis in infants (<2 yrs), Croup in toddlers (6mo-3yrs), Asthma can start young but often diagnosed after age 5.
Asthma responds to albuterol. Bronchiolitis needs supportive care. Croup needs steroids (dexamethasone).
Part of Software 2.0 Productivity Suite
This is a personal project created for individual use. It demonstrates what's possible when you combine
clinical expertise with modern AI coding assistants. Feel free to use it, but remember—it hasn't been
validated for clinical/production environments.