ear, nose, and throat disorders
Epiglottitis
Symptoms and Signs of Epiglottitis
Inchildrenwith epiglottitis, sore throat, odynophagia, and dysphagia develop abruptly, often with no visible oropharyngeal inflammation. Fatal asphyxia may occur within a few hours of onset. Drooling is very common. Additionally, the child has signs of toxicity (poor or absent eye contact, cyanosis, irritability, inability to be consoled or distracted) and is febrile and anxious. Dyspnea, tachypnea, and inspiratory stridor may be present, often causing the child to sit upright, lean forward, and hyperextend the neck with the jaw thrust forward and mouth open in an effort to enhance air exchange (tripod position). Relinquishing this position may herald respiratory failure. Suprasternal, supraclavicular, and subcostal inspiratory retractions may be present. Inadults,symptoms are similar to those of children, including sore throat, fever, dysphagia, and drooling, but peak symptoms usually take>24 hours to develop. Because of the larger diameter of the adult airway, obstruction is less common and less fulminant. Often, there is no visible oropharyngeal inflammation. However, severe throat pain with a normal-appearing pharynx raises suspicion of epiglottitis. A delay in diagnosis and treatment increases the risk of airway obstruction and death. 