Wheezing is associated with all of the following EXCEPT

• A. Epiglottitis
• B. Hyaline membrane disease
• C. Asthma
• D. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Answer: (A)

Wheeze reflects narrowing of the lower airway passages, producing a high-pitched, musical sound as air moves through constricted bronchioles. This pattern is typical of conditions that involve the lower respiratory tract, such as asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and it can be seen in bronchiolitis or other lower-airway obstructions.

Epiglottitis, on the other hand, is an upper airway emergency caused by swelling above the vocal cords. It presents with sudden distress, drooling, muffled voice, and inspiratory stridor rather than wheezing. The presence of stridor and rapid upper-airway symptoms differentiates it from lower-airway wheeze.

Hyaline membrane disease (respiratory distress syndrome) mainly shows tachypnea, grunting, nasal flaring, retractions, and crackles due to surfactant deficiency; wheezing is not a defining feature. Asthma clearly involves expiratory wheeze from reversible bronchoconstriction, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants often features persistent wheezing from chronic small-airway disease.

Therefore, the option that is not associated with wheezing is epiglottitis.