High urgency
-Very severe
The epiglottis is a cartilage that prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing. Its inflammation is called epiglottitis and occurs mainly in children between 2 and 6 years of age.
It has an infectious cause, usually bacterial.
It causes high fever, sore throat, respiratory stridor, respiratory distress, difficulty swallowing, drooling and voice changes.
The diagnosis is clinical by interrogation, physical examination and determination of the germ in blood.
The patient should receive immediate treatment including oxygen therapy, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Severe cases may require intubation and connection to a respirator.
- Charles R Woods, MD, MS. Epiglottitis (supraglottitis): Clinical features and diagnosis. UpToDate. Jun 23, 2015.
- Charles R Woods, MD, MS. Epiglottitis (supraglottitis): Treatment and prevention. UpToDate. Jun 23, 2015.
- Laura L Loftis, MD. Emergency evaluation of acute upper airway obstruction in children. UpToDate. dec09, 2013.
- Rafei K, Lichenstein R. Airway infectious disease emergencies. Pediatr Clin North Am 2006; 53:215.
- Sobol SE, Zapata S. Epiglottitis and croup. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2008; 41:551.
- Vivas Moresco MF, Velasco Bernardo R, Fernández Maseda MA. Dificultad respiratoria en el niño. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010: 1285.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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