Epiglottitis is an acute inflammation in the supraglottic region of the oropharynx with inflammation of the epiglottis, vallecula, arytenoids, and aryepiglottic folds. George Washington probably died of epiglottitis in 1799. Epiglottitis is an acute inflammation involving the epiglottis, vallecula, aryepiglottic folds, and arytenoids. Historically, it has been a disease of adults.
Adult epiglottitis is most frequently a disease of men, occurring during the fifth decade of life.
In the last 50 years it has become more common in children, although incidence in children is declining. Occurrence has decreased since introduction of Haemophilus influenzae B vaccine. In the pediatric population, epiglottitis is most common in those aged 3-7 years, although any age may be affected. A streptococci are most common causes in adults. For those in extremis, samples for lab tests should not be drawn and epiglottic swab culture should not be obtained until airway has been secured.