Epiglottitis is an acute infection, most common from 3 to 6 years of age. Symptoms exhibited during the onset of epiglottitis are fever, septic status, forced posture, dysphagia, hoarse voice, dyspnea, and sialorrhea. It is important to avoid any maneuvers that might agitate the child, not to lie the child on the bed, not to remove the child from the parents, not to take blood samples, and not to inspect the oral head.
The examinations to be performed are lateral neck X-ray, fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, and blood culture before therapy.
Source: Medical Emergencies in Pediatrics by Mediserve edited by Maurizio Vanelli
