Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders An Overview of Epiglottitis By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD on April 10, 2020 facebook linkedin Benjamin F. Asher, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist. He has a private practice in New York City where he focuses on natural and integrative healing. Learn about our Medical Review Board Benjamin F. Asher, MD on April 10, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that happens when the tissue covering the windpipe becomes swollen. The epiglottis is a small flap of cartilage, attached to the base of the tongue in the throat, that closes off the windpipe, or trachea, when you swallow. A bacterial infection or throat injury can lead to epiglottitis and cause symptoms including pain with swallowing, drooling, and difficulty breathing. By recognizing epiglottitis symptoms early, you can get treatment before it becomes a life-threatening emergency. Blend Images - REB Images/Getty Images Symptoms Epiglottitis symptoms can start and progress quickly, especially for young children. For older children and adults, it may take a few days for symptoms to completely develop. The most common epiglottitis symptoms include: Fever of 100.4 degrees or higherSore throatDifficulty and pain when swallowingAbnormal breathing noises, possibly high-pitchedExcessive drooling because of difficulty and pain with swallowingVoice that sounds muffled or hoarseIrritability and restlessnessSitting upright and leaning forward to try to breathe easier Some of these symptoms can be similar to croup, a respiratory infection that typically occurs in young children. However, croup is usually associated with coughing, not drooling, while epiglottitis is associated with drooling and a lack of coughing. Epiglottitis is considered a medical emergency. If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms and you suspect epiglottitis, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. Causes The most common cause of epiglottitis is the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria, which also causes meningitis and pneumonia. With the development of the Hib vaccine, the incidence of this infection has decreased substantially over the last 30 years. However, cases of epiglottitis continue to occur, either because of Hib or other causes. While the Hib vaccine is 90% to 95% effective, it does not contain all strains of Hib, so it is possible to get Hib and epiglottitis even after being vaccinated. Other non-Hib causes of epiglottitis include: Infections from other bacteria, such as streptococcus pneumoniae, which also causes pneumoniaFungal infections, especially in those who have weak immune systemsViral infections from the viruses that cause chickenpox or cold soresInjury to the throat from hot substances, chemical burns, or foreign objectsSmoking drugs, such as marijuana and crack cocaine Diagnosis After a physical examination, your doctor will take X-rays of the neck to view the epiglottis and rule out the possibility of a foreign substance in the airway. Your doctor may also order a flexible laryngoscopy, which uses a long, thin instrument with a small camera at the end to examine the throat. Laboratory tests will be ordered to determine whether the condition is caused by a bacterial infection. If epiglottitis is suspected in a child (symptoms include severe sore throat, drooling, no cough, and fever), the child needs to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT—preferably a pediatric ENT—immediately. All exams should be done in a controlled, calm environment, since examining a child in this situation can provoke laryngospasm and loss of the airway, even in an awake child, which is a pediatric airway emergency. Treatment Epiglottitis must be treated in the hospital, since it’s considered a medical emergency. The most important step is to keep your airway open. That starts with an oxygen mask to help bring needed air to your lungs. If the oxygen mask isn’t enough, you may be given a tracheal intubation, in which a tube is placed down the mouth and into the windpipe to push oxygen past the swollen epiglottis. In severe cases, a tracheotomy may be performed. This involves making a surgical cut in the front of the windpipe so a tube can be inserted, allowing air to bypass the epiglottis. Intravenous (IV) fluids will be given until you are able to swallow again. Antibiotics will also be given to help fight the infection that led to epiglottitis. With appropriate treatment, you should take about a week to recover from epiglottitis. A Word From Verywell Vaccinating your children against Hib is one of the best ways to prevent epiglottitis. While incidences of epiglottitis have decreased, it is still possible to get it through a bacterial infection or throat injury. Epiglottitis does require emergency care, but most people recover fully after receiving timely treatment at the hospital. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. NIH MedlinePlus. Epiglottitis. Updated May 7, 2020. Lichtor JL, Roche rodriguez M, Aaronson NL, Spock T, Goodman TR, Baum ED. Epiglottitis: It hasn't gone away. Anesthesiology. 2016;124(6):1404-7. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000001125 Baiu I, Melendez E. Epiglottitis. JAMA. 2019;321(19):1946. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.3468 Cleveland Clinic. Epiglottitis. Updated June 18, 2018. Cleveland Clinic. How is epiglottitis diagnosed? Updated June 18, 2018. Cleveland Clinic. How is epiglottitis treated? Updated June 18, 2018. Harvard Health Publishing. Epiglottitis. Updated December 2018. Additional Reading Cleveland Clinic. Epiglottitis. Updated June 18, 2018.