Emergency cause of Sore throat - life threatening. Notifiable disease
Causes/Factors
- H. influenzae type b the most common cause
- Other causes include strep pneumoniae and Group A Strep
Symptoms
- Very acute onset
- Fever
- Stridor
Signs
- Drooling
- Muffled voice
Diagnostic Tests
Do not examine the throat of anyone with suspected epiglottitis
Management
- immediate senior involvement- anaesthesia and ENT
- A-E- secure airway
- endotracheal intubation
- Oxygen
- nebulised adrenaline
- IV antibiotics
- IV steroids
- fluid resus