Epiglottitis | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of epiglottitis?
While symptoms may vary from child to child, the most common include:
- Quick onset of a very sore throat
- Fever
- Muffled voice
- No cough
- Drooling
- Unable to talk
- Child sits leaning forward
- Child keeps his mouth open
- Difficulty breathing
Epiglottitis | Diagnosis & Treatments
How we diagnose epilottitis
Because of the severity of the disease and the need for immediate care, the diagnosis is usually made on physical appearance and a thorough medical history. If epiglottitis is suspected, your child will need to immediately be seen in the emergency room.
At the hospital, the following tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis:
- X-ray of the neck
- Blood tests
- Visualization of the airway
How we treat epiglottitis
Epiglottitis requires immediate emergency care to prevent your child from stopping breathing. If epiglottitis is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics are started right away. Once your child is being monitored, the airway is safe, and antibiotics are started if appropriate, the disease usually stops progressing within 24 hours. Complete recovery takes longer and depends on each child's condition.
Treatment may include:
- Closely monitoring your child's airway
- If needed, assisting your child's breathing with machines
- Intravenous (IV) therapy with antibiotics to treat the infection
- Steroid medication (to reduce airway swelling)
- Intravenous (IV) fluids, until the child can swallow again
If your child is diagnosed with bacterial epiglottitis, your family or other close contacts may need to be treated with an antibiotic as well, to prevent the disease in those people who might have been exposed.
