Epiglottitis

Introduction

Epiglottitis is inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis. In most cases, it's caused by infection.

The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that sits beneath the tongue at the back of the throat. Its main function is to close over the windpipe (trachea) while you're eating, to prevent food entering your airways.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 24 Nov 2016

Articles for epiglottitis

Introduction

Epiglottitis is inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis. In most cases, it's caused by infection. The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that sits beneath the tongue at the back of the throat.

Symptoms of epiglottitis

The symptoms of epiglottitis usually develop quickly and get rapidly worse, although they can develop over a few days in older children and adults. Symptoms include: a severe Strep throat difficul

When to seek medical advice

Epiglottitis is regarded as a medical emergency, asa swollen epiglottis can restrict the oxygen supply to your lungs. Dial 999 to ask for an ambulance if you think you or your child has epiglottitis

Treating epiglottitis

Epiglottitis is treated in hospital. The first thing the medical team will do is secure the person's airways, to make surethey can breathe properly. Securing the airways Anoxygen mask will be given

Why it happens

Epiglottitis is usually caused by an infection withHaemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. As well as epiglottitis, Hib can cause a number of serious infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis

Hib vaccination

The most effective way to prevent your child getting epiglottitis is to make suretheir vaccinations are up to date. Children are particularly vulnerable to a Hib infection, because they have an under

Who is affected

Because of the success of the Hib vaccination programme,epiglottitis is rare in the UK, andmost cases now occur in adults.Deaths from epiglottitis arealso rare, occurring inless than 1 in 100 cases.

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