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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Epiglottitis natural history, complications and prognosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

If left untreated, epiglottitis may result in respiratory obstruction and death within a few hours.[1] Acute epiglottitis may be complicated by the following:[2][3][3][4][5] epiglottic abscess, emphysematous epiglottitis, septic epiglottic chondritis with or without abscessation, airway obstruction and pneumonia. With appropriate and timely diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is usually good.[6]

Natural history

Natural history

If left untreated, epiglottitis may result in respiratory obstruction and death within a few hours.[1]

Complications

Complications

Acute epiglottitis may lead to the following complications:[2][3][3][4][5]

Prognosis

Prognosis

Epiglottitis can be a life-threatening emergency. However, with appropriate and timely diagnosis and treatment usually results in a complete recovery.[6]

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rivers RL (1979). “Acute epiglottitis (supraglottitis)”. J Forensic Sci. 24 (2): 470–2. PMID 541622.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Infernuso T, Watts AE, Ducharme NG (2006). “Septic epiglottic chondritis with abscessation in 2 young Thoroughbred racehorses”. Can Vet J. 47 (10): 1007–10. PMC 1571119. PMID 17078251.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rohrbach MR, Shabani S, Wieland A (2016). “Airway Obstruction Secondary to Emphysematous Epiglottitis: A Case Report”. Am J Case Rep. 17: 834–836. PMC 5102242. PMID 27821835.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chang HW, Lin WJ, Hu SY (2013). “Acute epiglottitis complicating an emphysematous abscess”. CJEM. 15 (3): 184–5. PMID 23663468.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hsieh JK, Phelan MP, Wu G, Bricker A, Anne S (2015). “Epiglottic abscess”. Am J Emerg Med. 33 (5): 734.e5–7. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2014.10.036. PMID 25456339.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mathoera RB, Wever PC, van Dorsten FR, Balter SG, de Jager CP (2008). “Epiglottitis in the adult patient”. Neth J Med. 66 (9): 373–7. PMID 18931398.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]