Description

Epiglottitis occurs when the epiglottis — a small cartilage "lid" that covers your windpipe — swells. The swelling blocks the flow of air to the lungs. Epiglottitis can be deadly.

Many factors can cause the epiglottis to swell. These factors include infections, burns from hot liquids and injuries in the throat.

Epiglottitis can occur at any age. Once, mainly to the children got it. The most common cause of epiglottitis in children was infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. The bacteria can also cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections.

Routine Hib vaccination for babies has made epiglottitis rare in children. It is now more common in adults. The condition needs prompt medical attention to avoid life-threatening complications.

Symptoms

Symptoms in children

Children may develop symptoms of this condition in a matter of hours. Symptoms may include:

  • Fever.
  • The sore throat.
  • Unusual, high-pitched sound when breathing in, known as stridor.
  • Difficulty and pain when swallowing.
  • Drooling.
  • Acting anxiety and irritability.
  • Sitting or leaning forward to allow for easier breathing.

The symptoms in adults

Adults may have symptoms for days instead of hours. Symptoms may include:

  • The sore throat.
  • Fever.
  • A deaf person, or a hoarse voice.
  • Unusual, high-pitched sound when breathing in, known as stridor.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Drooling.

When to see a doctor

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know suddenly has trouble breathing and swallowing, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room. Try to keep the person quiet and in the upright position, because this position may make it easier to breathe.

Causes

An infection or injury that causes epiglottitis.

Infection

In the past, a common cause of swelling and inflammation of the epiglottis and surrounding tissues was infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. Hib is responsible for other conditions, the most common being meningitis. Hib is now much less common in developed countries where children receive vaccines against Hib.

Hib is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes droplets in the air. It is possible to have Hib in the nose and throat without getting sick. But spreading it to others is still possible.

In adults, other bacteria and viruses can also cause the epiglottis to swell. These include:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). This bacteria can cause meningitis, pneumonia, ear infection, and infection of the blood.
  • Streptococcus a, B, and C. This group of bacteria that can cause diseases of the throat by a streptococcal infection of the blood.
  • Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria causes infections of the skin and other diseases such as pneumonia, and toxic shock syndrome.

Injury

Rarely, a physical injury such as a blow to the throat, which can cause epiglottitis. So that you can burn to drink far too hot, and breathe the smoke of a fire.

Symptoms such as epiglottitis may come from:

  • The ingestion of a chemical substance that burns the throat.
  • To swallow an object.
  • Smoking drugs, such as crack cocaine.
  • Smoking electronic cigarettes.

Risk factors

Some factors that increase the risk of epiglottitis, including:

  • Having a weakened immune system. An immune system weakened by disease or the medications may be more likely to get bacterial infections that can cause this condition.
  • Have not been vaccinated. Skip vaccines or not arriving on time can leave a child open to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and increase the risk of this condition.

Complications

Epiglottitis can cause many complications, including:

  • Respiratory failure.The epiglottis is a small piece of furniture, "cover" just above the larynx, preventing food and drink from entering the trachea. Inflammation of the epiglottis can block the airway. This can lead to the breathing, or respiratory failure. In this life-threatening condition, the level of oxygen in the blood drops too low.
  • The spread of infection. Sometimes the bacteria that cause epiglottitis cause infections in other parts of the body. The infections may include pneumonia, meningitis, or an infection in the bloodstream.

Respiratory failure. The epiglottis is a small piece of furniture, "cover" just above the larynx, preventing food and drink from entering the trachea. Inflammation of the epiglottis can block the airway.

This can lead to the breathing, or respiratory failure. In this life-threatening condition, the level of oxygen in the blood drops too low.

Prevention

The Hib vaccine

Obtaining the vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, the vaccine prevents epiglottitis caused by Hib . In the united States, children typically receive the vaccine in three or four doses:

  • 2 months.
  • To 4 months.
  • At 6 months if the child is receiving four doses of the vaccine.
  • At 12 to 15 months.

Due to children over 5 years old and adults are less likely to develop the infection by Hib, are not usually given the vaccine. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for older children and adults with weakened immune systems due to:

  • The sickle cell disease.
  • HIV / AIDS .
  • The removal of the spleen.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Medication to prevent rejection of organ or bone marrow transplantation.

Side effects of the vaccine

  • Allergic reaction. An allergic reaction requires swift medical attention. Although rare, an allergic reaction can cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness in a matter of minutes or hours after the injection.
  • Possible mild side effects. These include redness, warmth, swelling, or pain at the injection site and fever.

The common-sense precautions

The Hib vaccine is not foolproof. Some vaccinated children have had epiglottitis and other germs can cause epiglottitis too. That is where common sense comes on:

  • Do not share personal items.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Diagnosis

In the first place, the medical team will ensure that the airway is open and that enough oxygen is getting through. The team monitors the breathing and oxygen levels in the blood.

Oxygen levels that fall too low, you may need breathing assistance.

Tests after that breathing is stable

  • The throat of the exam. Using a flexible fiber optic lighted tube, a health care provider is seen in the throat through the nose to see what is causing the symptoms. An anesthetic is applied to the nose can make the test more comfortable. This could be done in an operating room in the event that the airways are blocked.
  • Chest or neck X-ray. They are not necessary for the diagnosis, but X-rays can help the providers to check if you have epiglottitis. With epiglottitis, the x-ray can show what looks like a fingerprint in the neck. This is a sign of an enlarged epiglottis.
  • Throat culture and blood tests. Once the breathing is stable, a member of the team wipes of the epiglottis with a cotton swab and checks the tissue sample for Hib . Blood cultures can know if there is an infection of the blood known as bacteremia. Bacteremia is often present with epiglottitis.

Treatment

Help a person to breathe is the first step in the treatment of epiglottitis. Then, the treatment focuses on the infection.

Help with breathing

Making sure that you or your child is breathing well it could mean:

  • He was wearing an oxygen mask. The mask sends oxygen to the lungs.
  • Have a breathing tube placed in the trachea through the nose or the mouth, known as intubation. The tube remains in place until the swelling in the throat going down. This can take several days.
  • Put a needle in the trachea, known as a needle cricothyroidotomy. In rare cases, a health care provider creates an emergency airway. To get air into the lungs quickly, a doctor places a needle into an area of the cartilage of the trachea, also known as the trachea.

The treatment of the infection

Antibiotics administered through a vein to treat this condition.

  • Broad-spectrum antibiotic. The infection needs treatment fast. Thus, a health care provider may prescribe a broad-spectrum drug immediately, instead of waiting for the results of the blood and tissue cultures.
  • More targeted antibiotic. The first drug that can subsequently be changed, depending on what is the cause of epiglottitis.

Preparing for your appointment

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency, so you don't have time to prepare for your appointment. The first health care provider that you see might be in an emergency room.

Symptoms and treatment of Epiglottitis