Acute epiglottitis in adults

Acute epiglottitis in adults is a potentially fatal but self-limiting disease of increasing incidence world-wide. Forty-two patients, seen consecutively over a four year period at the ENT Department, Singapore General Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. A strong male predominance with a peak age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 1988-11, Vol.102 (11), p.1017-1021
Main Authors: Stanley, R. E., Liang, T. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Emergencies
Ent and stomatologic bacterial diseases
Epiglottitis - diagnostic imaging
Epiglottitis - microbiology
Epiglottitis - therapy
Female
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Laryngitis - therapy
Main Articles
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
Sex Factors
Time Factors
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Summary:Acute epiglottitis in adults is a potentially fatal but self-limiting disease of increasing incidence world-wide. Forty-two patients, seen consecutively over a four year period at the ENT Department, Singapore General Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. A strong male predominance with a peak age incidence in the sixth decade was noted. A severe sore throat and dysphagia with disproportionate signs of oropharyngeal inflammation was the main presenting picture. Only three patients had stridor on presentation. Vigilant monitoring of the airway with empirical high-dosh intravenous amicillin, cloxacillin and steroids resulted in a dramatic clinical improvement in most patients and none developed stridor after admission. The yield from throat swabs and blood cultures were low. Two patients developed complications, a Ludwigs angina and an epiglottic abscess. Recurrent epiglottistis was a problem in one patient. There was low morbidity and no mortality on the management regime outlined.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215100107157