Epiglotitis
This is a condition when a person has a severe inflammation of the epiglottis and the structures surrounding it.
The severe infection may result to severe upper airway obstruction and toxicity. This is also known as Acute Supraglottic Laryngitis.
This condition is common among children above 3 years of age and is transmitted by direct contact or droplet infection.
Hemophilus influenza type B is considered the causative agent.
Clinically, affected children will manifest the following symptoms:
– sudden onset of nasal catarrh
– high fever
– severe respiratory distress soon follows in the form of cyanosis, tachypnea, inspiratory stridor, retractions
– then the child will have prostration and toxic facies of “ air hunger”
– there is cough but the voice is not affected
This condition is an emergency.
Affected children should be brought to the hospital immediately for proper management because the respiratory distress and progressive toxemia may cause death. This is one reason why we pediatricians are advocates of immunizations because this is a vaccine preventable disease.