The epiglottis is the toilet seat of the airway. That’s a useful function. But what if becomes so swollen and inflamed that it leads to airway obstruction and respiratory failure. That’s bad. That’s also what epiglottitis is. You can also call it supraglottitis. Either way you need to recognize this potentially life threatening malady and secure a definitive airway in the sickest patients ASAP.
References
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.
Richards AM. Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;34(1):77-96. PMID: 26614243.
Faden H. The dramatic change in the epidemiology of pediatric epiglottitis. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006 Jun;22(6):443-4. PMID: 16801849
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