Upper airway obstruction due to erysipelas

Erysipelas is a rare cause of airway compromise. A case of a 57-year-old female is described who developed upper airway obstruction secondary to erysipelas of the neck. Emergency treatment by awake fiberoptic bronchoscopy with intubation over the bronchoscope followed by intravenous antibiotics produced rapid clinical improvement. Lymphatic obstruction of the laryngeal structures is the most likely physiologic mechanism.