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Conditions
Respiratory tract diseases
Respiratory tract infections
Epiglottitis

Epiglottitis

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A life-threatening condition in which the tissue that covers the windpipe is swollen.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this

39 year experience in Internal Medicine

Is a type of:

Respiratory tract infections

How long it usually lasts:

Medium-term (lasts weeks to months)

How common it is:

Common
Baby
0-2
Very common
Preteen
6-13
Very common
Teenager
14-18
Very common
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

How it can usually be treated?

Can be cured with medical treatment

How is it usually diagnosed?

Requires diagnosis by a medical professional

Body locations

Neck (front)

Symptoms

Irritability
Fever
Fussiness
Fever, mild (99.0 F - 100.9 F)
Hoarse voice
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Epiglottitis
Ceftriaxone
4.2
36 reviews
Racemic epinephrine
3.4
71 reviews
Vancomycin
3.3
30 reviews
Humidified oxygen
3.1
42 reviews
Clindamycin
3.0
36 reviews
Load more

Other treatments

Oxygen supplementation

Tests

Blood culture

Risk factors

Personal

Recent sore throat
Recent dental procedure
Prolonged bed rest

Related questions

A 42-year old asked:

What's epiglottitis risk?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

What causes epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old asked:

Can you explain epiglottitis?

3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

What is an epiglottitis spasm?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

How did I develop epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

What are the tests for epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

What are the symptoms of epiglottitis?

4 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Who is at risk to develop epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old asked:

How can epiglottitis in children be treated?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old asked:

What are symptoms of epiglottitis in children?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 22-year old female asked:

How do you know if you have epiglottitis or not?

3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old female asked:

What is the best thing to do or to take for epiglottitis?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 25-year old asked:

Is it possible to be diagnosed with epiglottitis more than once?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

I was just diagonsed with epiglottitis, when should I be able to return to work?

1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in

A 50-year old asked:

I want to be healthy again and be happy with everyone. When do you know you have epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old asked:

If I am having trouble beathing could I have epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

Epiglottitis, pneumonia go together?

3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

What causes acute epiglottitis in children?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old asked:

Must I seek immediate help if my child has acute epiglottitis?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 22-year old female asked:

What is the treatment for epiglottitis?

3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

How is epiglottitis in children prevented?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old male asked:

Is epiglottitis rare in 14yr? Can they get it if they have bronchitis? If you have epiglottitis is your epiglottis then visible?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

Epiglottitis or just trouble breathing if I have an infection?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

How can I prevent acute epiglottitis again?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

Help me please (pain with swallowing) and epiglottitis?

2 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

Epiglottitis or just trouble breathing due to inflammation?

1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old female asked:

Can you cause epiglottitis from checking your throat in the mirror too much??

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

How can I prevent my child's acute epiglottitis from coming back?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old female asked:

Acute epiglottitis? I was in hospital for a week with this what can I do so i will never have it again?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 64-year old female asked:

Is epiglottitis contagious? My doctor says it is not contagious but there are websites that say it is highly contagious. Which is correct?

3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

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