[Treatment of acute epiglottitis]

We analyze 13 children between 1 and 3 years old (mean: 24.6 +/- 6.5 months), who were diagnosed (by direct or radiological examination) of epiglottitis. Seven were male. All of them had fever and respiratory distress. Six blood cultures (46%) were positive for Hemophilus Influenzae, and in 5 cases were resistant to beta-lactamases. Diagnose was made by radiology (70%) or by direct examination (30%). Five patients were not intubated (38%), with a favorable outcome. One died after a cardiorespiratory arrest due to self-extubation. We describe in this study our experience in the conservative treatment of epiglotitis, although initial nasotracheal intubation is the safest method for the management of this entity.