Related Subjects:
|Acute Epiglottitis
|Croup
|Acute Tracheitis
|Stridor
Important cause of stridor in a child and in the adult can be fatal too. It should be treated as a surgical emergency until the airway is examined and secured as a tracheostomy may be needed. Do not examine airway without senior anaesthetic and airways support if diagnosis considered
About
Aetiology
Clinical
Investigations (Bloods not done until airway secure)
Differential: Comparison of Croup vs Epiglottitis and Tracheitis
Croup
Tracheitis
Epiglottitis
Cause
Viral
Staphyloccocus aureus
Streptococcus
Haemophilus influenzae B
Age
6m - 3yr
Any age
2 - 6 yr
Onset
Gradual
Gradual
Sudden
Pyrexia
Mild
>38oC
>38oC
Abnormal sounds
Barking cough, stridor
Barking cough, stridor
Muffled, gutteral cough
Swallowing
Normal
Difficult
Very difficult with drooling
Posture
Recumbent
Sitting
Tripod position
Facies
Normal
Anxious
Anxious, distressed, toxaemic
Management
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Acute Epiglottitis
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