What is acute bacterial epiglottitis?
What is acute bacterial epiglottitis?
Acute epiglottitis: A rapidly progressive infection causing inflammation of the epiglottis (the flap that covers the trachea) and tissues around the epiglottis that may lead to abrupt blockage of the upper airway and death. The infection is usually caused by bacteria.
What antibiotics are used to treat epiglottitis?
Ceftriaxone is the antibiotic of choice (DOC) for epiglottitis. This agent is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against gram-negative organisms, lower efficacy against gram-positive organisms, and higher efficacy against resistant organisms.
What kind of infection can cause epiglottitis?
Epiglottitis is usually caused by an infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. As well as epiglottitis, Hib can cause a number of serious infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis.
Why is supraglottitis more common in adults?
In adults, the condition is becoming more common, and may be linked to smoking, diabetes and the lapsing of childhood Haemophilus immunity. The initial diagnosis of epiglottitis or supraglottitis is based on the history.
When to take a patient to the ER for supraglottitis?
If in an Emergency Department, you should involve your registrar/consultant as soon as possible and transfer the patient to Resus. All epiglottitis and supraglottitis patients need admission until the episode is resolved and the airway is known to be safe. Do not be fooled by a relatively well-looking patient – rapid decompensation can occur.
What are the symptoms of epiglottitis in children?
Symptoms in children. In children, signs and symptoms of epiglottitis may develop within a matter of hours, including: Fever. Severe sore throat. Abnormal, high-pitched sound when breathing in (stridor) Difficult and painful swallowing.
When did supraglottitis become a medical condition?
Supraglottitis was first reported in 1900 by Theisen, who called it angina epiglottidea [1] Woo and van Hasselt [2] and Shapiro et al [3] favor the term acute supraglottitis because the inflammatory process involves multiple supraglottic structures rather than the epiglottis alone.
What happens if you have an epiglottis infection?
Epiglottitis can cause a number of complications, including: Respiratory failure. The epiglottis is a small, movable “lid” just above the larynx that prevents food and drink from entering your windpipe. Spreading infection.
Can a bacterial or fungal infection cause glossitis?
Sometimes glossitis can be genetic. It can also stem from a systemic condition like acid reflux. The methods of treating glossitis vary depending on the cause. If glossitis stems from a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection, your medical or dental professional may prescribe a medication to alleviate the symptoms and heal the infection.
How does supraglottitis affect the vocal cords?
Epiglottitis and supraglottitis cause inflammation and swelling of the tissues immediately above the vocal cords. The condition is unpredictable, and can lead to rapid decompensation and complete airway obstruction.