BACKGROUND Despite a shift in the epidemiology of epiglottitis following the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, acute infectious epiglottitis continues to be a relatively common and potentially life-threatening infection in adults. Epiglottitis complicated by abscess is rare, and emphysematous abscess is even less common. Early diagnosis and intervention is paramount in ...

We report an unusual case of a neonate with aphonia due to epiglottitis with a concomitant methicillin-resistant S taphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection of the genitalia and associated septic emboli to the groin area and mouth. We postulate that the MRSA infection caused a transient bacteremia that seeded the epiglottis, likely causing the epiglottitis. In the evaluation of a neonate with aphon...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to describe current demographics and resource utilization in the treatment of pediatric epiglottitis. STUDY DESIGN Case series from a national database. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The Kids' Inpatient Database was systematically searched to extract patients under 19 years old admitted with a diagnosis of epiglottitis and undergoing an airway intervention. ...

Objective: The prevalence of adult acute epiglottitis is probably more common than is generally appreciated. A retrospective case review in a district hospital and a medical literature search may provide baseline information to guide future strategies. Methods: Cases of acute epiglottitis in a period of 3 years and 4 months were traced from the hospital computer systems. Medical records were re...

We report a case of an acute necrotizing supraglottitis in a healthy patient. Only seven cases of necrotizing epiglottitis/supraglottitis have been reported in medical literature; all in immunocompromised patients. The features and characteristics of necrotizing epiglottitis are discussed with review of all previously reported cases.

Epiglottic abscess is rare sequelae of acute epiglottitis. It occurs commonly in adult although acute epiglottitis commonly occur in children. The presentation includes fever with odynophagia. The diagnosis is based on high index of suspicion especially when oral examinations reveal normal findings. We report a case of adult epiglottic abscess which was treated with incision and drainage. The o...

Epiglottitis is inflammation and cellulitis of the soft tissues above the glottis − the epiglottis, vallecula, arytenoid cartilage and aryepiglottic folds. It is a life-threatening emergency which is most commonly caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. The incidence of epiglottitis has declined dramatically since the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and c...

Diphtheria is a rare cause of infection in highly vaccinated populations and may not be recognized by modern clinicians. Infections by nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae are emerging. We report the first case of necrotizing epiglottitis secondary to nontoxigenic C diphtheriae. A fully vaccinated child developed fever, poor oral intake, and sore throat and was found to have necrotizing epi...

OBJECTIVES Acute epiglottitis in adult is a potentially life-threatening condition that may be underdiagnosed. The present study reports the clinical features, management and patient outcomes in an acute hospital in Hong Kong over a seven-year period. METHOD All adult patients aged 18 years or above admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital between July 1999 and June 2006 with the diagnosis of acute epig...

We present a case of Haemophilus influenzae lobar pneumonia in the father of a child admitted with acute epiglottitis caused by the same organism. The suggestion that adult, as well as child, contacts for Haemophilus influenzae epiglottitis should be prophylactically treated is discussed.