A health condition in which a small cartilage (epiglottis) that covers the windpipe swells is called Epiglottitis. Therefore, swelling interrupts airflow into the lungs. Sometimes, this condition can be fatal.
However, there are multiple factors that cause epiglottitis to swell. For example infections, burns from hot drinks, and throat injuries.
Commonly, this condition negatively affects children but it can happen in adults as well. One of the most common epiglottitis causes in children is an infection with Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) bacteria. Furthermore, this bacteria may cause pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections.
In addition, the routine Hib vaccine has reduced the condition among children and now it happens more commonly in adults. This condition is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Otherwise, it may lead to life-threatening complications.
Symptoms
While children may experience symptoms over a few hours, adults notice the epiglottitis symptoms over several days. Check below some of them:
- Fever
- Drooling
- Sore throat
- Painful and difficult swallowing
- Anxiety and irritability
- Stridor (unusual high-pitched sound when breathing in)
- Hoarseness (mostly in adults)
This condition is a medical emergency and if you experience sudden shortness of breath or trouble swallowing, you should immediately go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Causes
The primary causes of epiglottitis are injuries and infections. For example:
Infection
Previously, the most common cause of epiglottis swelling was a bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). However, the most common disease caused by this bacteria is meningitis. Hib is responsible for other health problems too including ear infections, conjunctivitis, arthritis, blood infections, meningitis, cellulitis, pneumonia, and others.
This bacteria usually spread to other people when an infected person coughs or sneezes droplets into the air. While some people with this bacteria are not sick, they can spread it to other healthy people.
However, in adults, there are other viruses and bacteria that may cause the epiglottis to swell. For example:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) – This is a bacteria that may cause ear and blood infections, pneumonia, and meningitis.
- Streptococcus A, B, and C – This bacteria group may cause strep throat, blood infections, and other health conditions.
- Staphylococcus aureus – This bacteria usually causes skin infections but may cause other diseases including toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, and others.
Injury
In rare cases, epiglottitis may occur due to physical injuries (such as a blow to the throat). Check below some sources of epiglottitis symptoms:
- Swallowing a chemical that burns in the throat or an object
- Smoking drugs (such as crack cocaine) or electronic cigarettes
Risk Factors
There are some factors that may significantly elevate your risk of developing epiglottitis. Examples include:
- Weakened immune system – People with weakened immunity are more likely to develop bacterial infections as well as epiglottitis. The immune system usually becomes weak due to cancer medicines, certain health conditions (such as HIV/AIDS), and others.
- Not administering the vaccine – If you are skipping vaccinations or do not get them in time, you are more prone to develop epiglottitis.
What Are The Potential Complications of Epiglottitis?
Those who ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment for this serious condition may experience some complications. For example:
- Breathing failure – Epiglottis is a small covering located above the larynx that prevents drinks and foods from entering the windpipe. Therefore, epiglottis swelling may fully block the airway. As a result, a life-threatening condition may happen that reduces oxygen levels in the blood quite fast.
- Infection spreading – In some cases, the bacteria that causes epiglottitis may spread to other body parts and cause infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, and others.
How to Prevent Epiglottitis?
Hib Vaccine
Fortunately, there is a vaccine available to prevent this condition. Thus, in the U.S. children receive either 3 or 4 doses. For example:
- At 2 and 4 months
- At 6 (if the child gets 4 doses of the vaccine) and 12-15 months
While healthy children over 5 years old and adults may not get the vaccine because the risk of developing epiglottitis is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for everyone who has weakened immune systems. Check below some causes of weakened immunity:
- HIV/AIDS
- Sickle cell disease
- Spleen removal
- Chemotherapy
- Medications used to prevent organ rejection or bone marrow transplants
This article does not contain all possible causes of a weakened immune system. Consult with your healthcare professional for more details.
In addition, the Hib vaccine may give you some adverse reactions. These include redness, warmth, swelling or pain at the injection site, fever, difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness, hives, and others. However, moderate and severe side effects usually are temporary.
Diagnosis
Physicians before diagnosing the condition, will check your airways and blood oxygen levels. Usually, people whose oxygen levels in the blood drop too low need breathing aid. Thereafter, physicians will perform some tests to confirm the condition and exclude others that cause similar symptoms. Examples include:
- Throat examination – This test uses a small, flexible, and lighted tube to check the throat for abnormalities.
- Chest or neck X-ray – This imaging test often is not needed to diagnose the condition but doctors perform it to make sure you have epiglottitis. If this test shows a thumbprint in the neck, usually it indicates an enlarged epiglottis.
- Throat culture and blood tests – These tests are used to check for Hib and if there is a blood infection (bacteremia). In most cases, people with epiglottitis also have bacteremia.
Treatment
The treatment goal is to restore breathing and prevent bacteria from spreading. Check below some tips used to improve breathing:
- Wear an oxygen mask
- Intubation (it involves a tube inserted through the nose into the windpipe)
- Needle cricothyroidotomy – This procedure is used rarely and involves creating an emergency airway to get the air into the lungs fast. To perform this procedure, doctors will insert a needle in the windpipe (also called trachea).
Commonly, to treat infections, doctors recommend intravenous (IV) antibiotics. The dose of the antibiotic medicine and duration of the treatment depends on the epiglottitis cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best treatment for people with epiglottitis?
Healthcare professionals usually use intravenous antibiotics to treat this condition. Sometimes, they may recommend a steroid medicine to reduce airway swelling.
Can epiglottitis be cured?
Yes, approximately all people with this condition recover completely within 7 days. However, they usually receive treatment in the hospital.
What are the potential complications of epiglottitis?
Those who suffer from epiglottitis may also experience some complications, especially if they do not receive treatment. Examples include:
- Pulmonary edema
- Hypoxic brain injury
- Respiratory or breathing failure
- Death
- Infection spreading
- Cellulitis or abscess
Consult with your healthcare professional about ways to prevent epiglottitis complications. Ask your doctor if you have additional questions.
