Signs of severe airway obstruction include:
- Inability to speak, cry, breathe, or cough effectively, often accompanied by silent attempts to breathe (silent choking)
- Gasping for air or struggling to breathe with visible distress
- Cyanosis, which is a bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nails due to lack of oxygen
- Clutching or grasping the throat, known as the universal choking sign
- High-pitched wheezing or stridor (a harsh, noisy breathing sound)
- Agitation, panic, confusion, or altered consciousness due to hypoxia
- Loss of consciousness if the obstruction is not relieved promptly
Additional physical signs indicating severe airway obstruction include use of accessory muscles for breathing, suprasternal retractions (skin pulling in above the sternum), and prolonged expiratory time, reflecting increased respiratory effort and distress
. These signs indicate a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention to restore airway patency and oxygenation
. In summary, a key sign of severe airway obstruction is the complete inability to breathe or speak, often accompanied by cyanosis and unconsciousness if untreated. Other signs include stridor, gasping, and visible distress
