Acute laryngeal infections in childhood

The first aim in management is to establish a diagnosis rapidly and this is dependent on a good knowledge of the various possibilities. From a practical point of view it is vital to distinguish inflammation above the glottis (epiglottitis or supraglottitis) from inflammation at or below the glottis (laryngo-tracheobronchitis). A variety of organisms, both bacterial and viral, have replaced Corynebacterium diphtheriae as the commonest cause of acute laryngeal infection. Diphtheria, however, still needs to be considered, as do conditions which may mimic laryngeal infections, such as acute retropharyngeal abscesses and foreign bodies.