Epiglottitis

Introduction Epiglottis is the cartilage at the entrance to the throat. It can be swollen and block the respiratory tract when infected with epiglottis. Therefore, epiglottis is a serious and potentially fatal infection. It occurs in children 2-6 years old and is often caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Therefore, immunization can be used to prevent infection with Haemophilus influenzae for the purpose of preventing epiglottis.

Cause

1, the most common cause of infection for this disease, pathogenic bacteria are B. influenzae, staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococci, Neisseria vaginalis, diphtheria-like bacilli, etc., can also be mixed with the virus infection.

2, allergic systemic allergic reaction can also cause epiglottis, phlegm and throat phlegm, high edema, secondary infection and onset.

3, traumatic foreign body trauma, irritating harmful gases, irritating foods, radiation damage, etc. can cause inflammatory lesions of the epiglottis mucosa.

4, acute inflammation of adjacent organs such as acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, stomatitis, rhinitis, etc. spread and invaded the epiglottis. Can also be secondary to acute infectious diseases.

an examination

Related inspection

Otolaryngology CT examination general radiography

As long as there is clinically suspected epiglottis, the patient should be hospitalized immediately. Direct examination of the epiglottis is diagnostic, but the examination may cause sudden, fatal obstruction of the airway, so the examination of the epiglottis is only allowed to be performed by trained personnel and prepared for keeping the airway open. If a "beef-like" red, stiff and edematous epiglottis is observed through a direct laryngoscope, the diagnosis can be confirmed and an artificial airway can be established immediately (see treatment below), and specimens can then be taken from the upper respiratory tract. Blood samples are also usually used as pathogen cultures.

Differential diagnosis

1. Sore throat and congestion, cold and fever, difficulty swallowing.

2. Press the tongue down to see the highly swollen epiglottis.

3. Indirect or direct laryngoscopy, see epiglottis redness, edema, sometimes pus or ulcers.

The disease should be differentiated from acute laryngotracheolitis, laryngeal edema, laryngeal diphtheria, and laryngeal foreign body.

The most important differential diagnosis is acute viral croup and bacterial bronchitis. Patients who have not been immunized with diphtheria should also consider the possibility of diphtheria.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.