Medicines for Epiglottitis

What it is

Epiglottitis is inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis — the small flap of tissue at the base of the tongue that closes over the windpipe when swallowing to stop food going into the airway. When it becomes severely swollen, usually from infection, it can rapidly block the airway, making it a life-threatening emergency. It was more common in young children before the Hib vaccine (which protects against a common cause) greatly reduced it; it can still occur in children and, increasingly, in adults. Symptoms come on quickly and can include a severe sore throat, difficulty and pain when swallowing (with drooling because swallowing is too painful), a muffled or "hot potato" voice, a high fever, and difficulty breathing, often with the person sitting upright and leaning forward to breathe. Because it can progress fast, it is treated as an emergency.

How it is treated

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency and must be managed in hospital without delay. The priority is protecting the airway, so a person with suspected epiglottitis should be kept calm and upright and taken for emergency care, avoiding anything that might distress them or examine the throat (which could trigger complete blockage). In hospital, the airway is secured by experienced specialists if needed, oxygen is given, and antibiotics treat the underlying infection, along with supportive care. Most people recover well with prompt treatment. Prevention through the Hib vaccination in the childhood immunisation schedule has made the classic childhood form much rarer. The essential message is recognition and immediate emergency response, given how quickly the airway can be threatened.