Abstract
Objectives
To examine the mode of presentation, clinical course and treatment of acute epiglottitis in a series of adult patients.
Method
All adults with acute epiglottitis admitted to teaching hospital over a period of 12 months were included in this retrospective study. The diagnosis of epiglottitis was eatablished by laryngoscopy and soft tissue X-ray neck lateral view.
Results
Twelve patients were included. Three patients had concurrent acute tonsillitis. Blood cultures were negative in all the cases. Pathogens were isolated by throat swabs only in three patients with acute tonsillitis. Two patients underwent intubation for management of airway obstruction. A combination of coamoxy-clav and metronidazole was the most common antibiotic regimen used.
Conclusion
The rising incidence of acute epiglottitis in the adults necessitates the close observance on the part of the otolaryngologist. Selective airway intervention is recommended for patients with more than 50% airway obstruction.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mayo-Smith MF, Hirsch PJ, Wodzinski SF, Schiffman FJ (1986) Acute epiglottitis in adults. An eight year experience in the state of Rhode Island. N Eng J Med 314:1133–1139
Trollfors B, Nylen O, Strangert K (1990) Acute epiglottitis in adults in Sweden 1981–1983. Arch Dis Child 65:491–494
Hebert PC, Ducic Y, Boisvert D, Lamothe A (1998) Adult epiglottitis in Canadian setting. Laryngoscope 108:64–69
Berger G, Landau T, Berger S, Finkelstein Y, Bernheim J, Ophir D (2003) The rising incidence of adult epiglottitis and epiglottitic abscess. Am J Otolaryngol 24:374–383
Mayo-Smith MF, Spinale JW, Donskey CJ, Yukawa M, Li RH, Schiffman FJ (1995) Acute epiglottitis. An eighteen experience in Rhode Island. Chest 108:1640–1647
Wurtele P (1990) Acute epiglottitis in children and adults: a large-scale incidence study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery 103:902–908
Carenfelt C, Sobin A (1989) Acute infectiousepiglottitis in children and adults: annual incidence and mortality. Clin Otolaryngol 14:489–493
Frantz TD, Rasgon BM, Quesenberry CP, Jr (1994) Acute epiglottitis in adults. Analysis of 129. JAMA 272:1358–1360
Murrage KJ, Janzen VD, Ruby RR (1988) Epiglottitis: adult and paediatric comparisons. J Otolaryngol 17:194–198
McCaig LF, Hughes JM (1995) Trends in antimicrobial drug prescribing among office based physicians in the United States 273:214–219
Kucera CM, Silverstein MD, Jacobson RM, Wollan PC, Jacobson SJ (1996) Epiglottitis in adults and children in Olmsted Country, Minnesota, 1976 through 1990. Mayo Clin Proc 71:715–718
Chan KO, pang YT, Tan KK (2001) Acute epiglottitis in the tropics: is it an adult disease? J Laryngol Otol 115:715–718
Shih L, Hawkins DB, Stanley RB Jr. (1988) Acute epiglottitis in adults: a review of 48 cases. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 79:527–529
Andreassen UK, Baer S, Nielsen TG, Dahm SL, Arndal H (1992) Acute epiglottitis: 25 years experience with nasotracheal intubation, current management policy and future trends. J Laryngol Otol 106:1072–1075
Nakamura H, Tanaka H, Matsuda A, Fukushima E, Hasegawa M (2001) Acute epiglottitis: a review of 80 patients. J Laryngol Otol 115:31–34
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sarkar, S., Roychoudhury, A. & Roychaudhuri, B.K. Acute epiglottitis in adults — a recent review in an Indian hospital. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 61, 197–199 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-009-0065-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-009-0065-x