Epiglottitis is a bacterial or viral infection that causes serious medical complication. Epiglottitis is the medical term given for the inflammation of small flesh like organ (epiglottis) present at the base of your tongue. Inflammation of epiglottis can cause life threatening situations in children. The main function of this organ is to prevent passage of food particles into the windpipe. However when this tissue gets swollen it can block and obstruct the airway passage causing choking and even death. Epiglottitis rarely occurs on adults but children are at risk for developing this complex condition due to infection leading to closing off windpipe.
Epiglottitis Symptoms :
Swelling of epiglottis can cause symptoms including sore throat, change in voice, difficulty in eating and speaking. For some children it can cause upper respiratory tract infection, breathing difficulties and choking due to closure of windpipe. It can cause rapid heart rate warranting medical emergency. Children with swelling of epiglottitis can be seen breathing through the mouth and the symptoms may improve when they are allowed to sit upright or in leaning position.
It is quite common to ignore these symptoms since they are often misunderstood for sore throat. But any delay in getting epiglottitis treated can cause death. In adults epiglottitis can cause raspy voice, breathing difficulty, sore throat, noisy breathing and choking. For both children and adults, epiglottitis should be treated on emergency basis to prevent mortality.
Causes Of Epiglottitis :
- Epiglottitis is the result of bacterial infection. Haemophilus influenzae is the common type of bacteria that causes epiglottitis. Bacteria can easily enter into the nasal cavity as one breathes in. It can also spread from infectious person when he/she coughs or sneezes the bacteria would easily enter your nose.
- Strep throat can lead to epiglottitis and hence Streptococcus pneumoniae and other strep infections can cause this problem.
- Viral infections like chicken pox and shingles can also cause epiglottitis. Some other causes of epiglottitis include smoking of cocaine, severe throat injury or trauma from a gunshot and burning of throat.