Acute obstructive respiratory emergencies in children are a common cause of emergency department visits. The severity of these conditions ranges from mild, self-limited disease to life-threatening forms of rapidly progressive airway obstruction. A high index of suspicion is necessary for prompt diagnosis and treatment. This review discusses general principles of assessing and managing respirato...

Acute epiglottitis is most commonly recognised in children as an infection with H. influenzae and may be a severe and rapidly fatal disease. Less commonly, adults, compromised by chronic bronchitis, may develop acute epiglottitis with H. influenzae or with a variety of other organisms including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, ' beta haemolytic group C St...