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Epiglottitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Supraglottitis

Symptoms:

Epiglottitis begins with a high fever and sore throat. Other symptoms may include:

• Drooling
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing (patient may need to sit upright and lean slightly forward to breathe)
• Noisy breathing ( stridor )
• Voice changes (hoarseness)
• Chills, shaking
• Cyanosis (blue skin coloring)

Signs and tests:

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help. Do not use a tongue depressor (tongue blade) to try to examine the throat at home, as this may make the condition worse.

The health care provider will examine the larynx (voice box) using either a small mirror held against the back of the throat or a viewing tube called a laryngoscope. This procedure, called laryngoscopy , may show a swollen and red epiglottis. Anesthesia may be needed to do a laryngoscopy if a breathing tube is necessary.

Tests used to diagnose epiglottitis may include:

• Blood culture or throat culture -- may show H. influenzae or other bacteria
• CBC -- may show a high number of white blood cells
• Neck x-rays -- may show a swollen epiglottis

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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