High urgency
-Very severe
The epiglottis is cartilage which prevents food from entering the windpipe when swallowing. Its inflammation is called epiglottitis and it mainly affects children aged between 2 and 6 years old.
It is of infectious origin, generally due to a bacterium.
It causes high fever, sore throat, respiratory stridor, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, drooling and voice changes.
Diagnosis is clinical through questioning, a physical examination and by determining the bacterium in the blood.
You must receive treatment immediately with oxygen, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs. Severe cases can require intubation and connection to a ventilator.
- 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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