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Acute epiglottitis: epidemiology, clinical presentation, management and outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2007

L-A Guldfred ,
D Lyhne  and
B C Becker
L-A Guldfred*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
D Lyhne
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
B C Becker
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Liviu-Adelin Guldfred, Moseroejel 4, 2670 Greve, Denmark. E-mail: liviu@hlaug.dk
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Abstract

Aims:

To describe the incidence trends, clinical presentation, management and outcome of acute epiglottitis in a Danish population after the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.

Methods:

Retrospective review of the health records of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of acute epiglottitis from the otolaryngology department, Roskilde County Hospital, Denmark, from 1996 to 2005.

Results:

One infant and 34 adults were identified. The incidence of acute epiglottitis in children was 0.02 cases/100 000/year. Before introduction of the H influenzae type b vaccination (1983–1992), the mean national incidence of acute epiglottitis was 4.9 cases/100 000/year. The incidence of acute epiglottitis in adults was constant, with a mean value of 1.9 cases/100 000/year. Twenty-nine per cent of the patients required an artificial airway, and respiratory distress was found to be associated with airway intervention (p = 0.010). All patients recovered completely.

Conclusions:

In the H influenzae type b vaccine era, acute epiglottitis in children has almost disappeared. The incidence in the adult population has been constant. A discriminate approach to airway management seems safe in adults.

Keywords

Haemophilus Influenzae VaccinesEpiglottisChildImmunisationDenmark
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 8 , August 2008 , pp. 818 - 823
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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