Title Acute epiglottitis in children: experience in diagnosis and treatment in Lithuania /
Translation of Title Ūmus vaikų epiglotitas: diagnostikos ir gydymo patirtis Lietuvoje.
Authors Narkevičiūtė, Irena ; Mudėnienė, Vida ; Petraitienė, Sigita
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Is Part of Acta medica Lituanica. 2007, Vol. 14, no. 1. ISSN 1392-0138
Keywords [eng] Acute epiglottitis ; Children ; Management ; Outcome
Abstract [eng] Background. Acute epiglottitis which is usually caused by Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) is a rare but serious, potentially life-threatening infection. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical peculiarities, management and outcome of acute epiglottitis in children. Patients and methods. Case histories of 37 children aged 6 months to 11 years, not vaccinated against Hib, who had been discharged with diagnosis of epiglottitis from Vilnius University Children’s Hospital in 1990–2004 were analysed retrospectively. Results. 23 children (62.2%) were aged 2–7 years. The primary diagnosis of epiglottitis was made only in 10 (27%) cases. 29 patients (78.4%) were admitted to the hospital on the first day of illness and 18 of them within 6 hours since the beginning of illness. All children appeared toxic and had fever. Other common symptoms were: dyspnoea (97.2%), dysphonia (97.2%), dysphagia (88%), drooling (72%), upright sitting position (86.4%). The white blood cell count varied from 4.8 to 39.8 × 109/l (mean 17.8 ± 8.8). In 8 patients (21.6%) an artificial airway was made. All the children were treated with parenteral antibiotics. Antibacterial treatment commenced at an early stage reduced the duration of the patients’ fever by a day and a half on average. There were no deaths due to epiglottitis. Conclusions. Physicians need to be wary of the possibility of epiglottitis in a toxic-appearing child with fever, upright sitting position and presenting “4D” symptoms. With a timely and appropriate intervention full recovery is expected.
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2007