Adult epiglottitis

Adult epiglottitis is a disease that is well known to otolaryngologists, but is less commonly encountered in general medical practice. It is being recognized with increasing frequency, and in many respects is different from paediatric epiglottitis. Three patients with adult epiglottitis are described, with an emphasis on the variation in clinical presentation and the difficulty in diagnosis. The appropriate examinations and the management of the disease are discussed.