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Acute epiglottitis: a presentation of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

H C Cocks1, I J Johnson

  • 1Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK. helen.cocks@btinternet.com

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|October 23, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Acute epiglottitis is now rare in children due to vaccination. However, this case highlights the importance of identifying immunocompromised children with acute epiglottitis to find underlying conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, introduced in 1992, significantly reduced the incidence of acute epiglottitis in children.
  • Acute epiglottitis is a serious upper airway infection characterized by inflammation of the epiglottis.

Observation:

  • A case of acute epiglottitis in a child is presented.
  • The epiglottitis was secondary to an underlying immunocompromised state in the child.

Findings:

  • The incidence of acute epiglottitis has decreased due to widespread Hib vaccination.
  • This case demonstrates that acute epiglottitis can still occur in children, particularly those who are immunocompromised.

Implications:

  • Diagnosing acute epiglottitis in children necessitates a thorough evaluation for underlying predisposing conditions, especially immunocompromised states.
  • Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for epiglottitis in immunocompromised pediatric patients.
  • Further research may explore the specific pathogens and risk factors associated with epiglottitis in immunocompromised children.

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