Its incidence in children has decreased considerably since the use of anti-Hemophilus influenzae vaccination . In contrast, in adults its incidence is increasing . The clinical picture includes dyspnea, fever, dysphagia with drooling and absence of cough. The sitting position spontaneously adopted by the child is very characteristic but rarely mentioned. In adolescents, epiglottitis can be pauci-symptomatic and less severe.
Diagnosis is confirmed by careful pharyngeal examination in a pediatric operating room.
Radiological exam is seldom necessary and mobilization of the child can be very hazardous . Complete UAO can be provoked by membranous deposits mimicking real foreign bodies. Etiologic agents include mainly S. aureus and less frequently H. influenzae, streptococcus, moraxella catarrhalis, and gram negative bacilli usually identified by tracheal aspirate culture, while hemoculture is rarely positive . The clinical picture is similar to that of viral laryngotracheitits but dyspnea is more severe with more pronounced toxicity. Aggravation of dyspnea associated with paroxysms of cough usually evokes the diagnosis.