| Epiglottitis is an acute inflammation in the supraglottic | | | | associated with fever, difficulty swallowing, drooling, |
| region of the oropharynx with inflammation of the | | | | and stridor. Epiglottitis is most common in children |
| epiglottis, vallecula, arytenoids, and aryepiglottic folds. | | | | between 2 and 6 years old. The child often appears |
| Epiglottitis involves bacterial infection of the epiglottis, | | | | acutely ill, anxious, and has very quiet shallow |
| most often caused by haemophilus influenzae type B, | | | | breathing with the head held forward, insisting on |
| although some cases are attributable to | | | | sitting up in bed. The early symptoms are insidious |
| streptococcus pneumoniae or streptococcus | | | | but rapidly progressive, and swelling of the throat |
| pyogenes. Epiglottitis typically affects children, and is | | | | may lead to cyanosis and asphyxiation. |