What Is Epiglottitis?

Acute epiglottis, also called acute supraglottic laryngitis, is a severe life-threatening infection that can cause obstruction of the throat and suffocate to death. Adults and children can develop this disease, which can occur throughout the year, but it is more common in winter and spring.

Basic Information

nickname

Acute supraglottic laryngitis

English name

epiglottitis

Visiting department

ENT

Common locations

throat

Common causes

Influenza B Infection, Throat Injury

Common symptoms

Sore throat, hoarseness and shortness of breath, high fever, etc.

Etiology of epiglottis

Infection

Acute epiglottis is often caused by viruses or bacteria, mostly caused by influenza B. It can also be mixed infections such as streptococcus and staphylococcus.

2. Trauma

Such as foreign body penetration, laryngotrauma, and injury during endoscopy or tracheal intubation.

Clinical manifestations of epiglottis

The onset is often acute and fulminant. Sudden sore throat, hoarseness and shortness of breath, high fever. Difficulty swallowing and respiratory distress characterized by drooling, dyspnea, rapid breathing, and inspiratory wheezing often cause the patient to lean forward and tilt his neck back to increase ventilation. On physical examination, the patient had deep inspiratory depressions in the sternum, supraclavicular space, intercostal space, and subcostal arch. Respiratory sounds are reduced on both sides of the lungs, and dry sounds can be heard.

Epiglottis examination

Direct inspection of epiglottis has diagnostic significance, but the inspection operation may cause sudden and fatal respiratory tract obstruction. Therefore, prepare the instruments to keep the airway open when inspecting epiglottis. If a "beef-like" red, stiff, and edema epiglottis is observed through a direct laryngoscope, a diagnosis can be made and an artificial airway established immediately, with specimens taken from the upper airway. At the same time, blood samples were collected for pathogenic bacteria culture.

Epiglottis diagnosis

Direct examination of epiglottis is diagnostic. If a "beef-like" red, stiff and edema epiglottis is observed through a direct laryngoscope, the diagnosis can be established.

Epiglottis treatment

At present, immunization of infants 2 months with the highly effective Haemophilus conjugate vaccine can prevent Haemophilus influenzae b epiglottis.

The airway must be unobstructed, preferably with nasal trachea intubation and antibiotics given parenterally. Nasal tracheal intubation can not be removed until 24 to 48 hours after the condition is stable (the total intubation time generally does not exceed 60 hours). Perform tracheotomy if necessary.

The use of antibiotics via the parenteral route can effectively control inflammation. Treatment with anti--lactamase antibiotics should be initiated. 3rd generation cephalosporins or chloramphenicol intravenously Chloramphenicol-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b has been isolated, and patients with this condition should use a third-generation cephalosporin. If isolated bacteria are sensitive to ampicillin, ampicillin should be administered intravenously. Avoid using sedatives.