Acute epiglottitis

The weather is dry in spring, and many people seek medical attention for symptoms such as dry, itchy, painful throats or foreign body sensation. Many people tend to ignore it, thinking that it may be caused by getting angry, which is just a minor problem and nothing to worry about. However, this idea may cause you to ignore a serious disease - acute epiglottitis.

What is acute epiglottitis?

Acute epiglottitis is a common laryngeal emergency, an acute inflammation of the epiglottis (a part of the larynx) caused by viruses, bacteria or other factors. The epiglottis is an important checkpoint in the throat, and it can flap up and down as you swallow. When you eat and swallow, it covers the entrance to the throat like a lid to prevent food from entering the throat and trachea and causing choking and coughing; it opens upwards when you breathe to ensure that airflow enters the trachea smoothly. When the epiglottis is inflamed, this "lid" will continue to swell, and in severe cases it may even swell into a ball, causing the airway to be closed and the person to be unable to breathe. Most patients can recover after treatment, but a few patients have a serious and rapidly progressing condition, which can quickly lead to acute suffocation, and a "throat lock" can lead to death, so it must not be underestimated.

What are the symptoms of acute epiglottitis?

1. Sore throat: This is the most common symptom. The patient has sore throat that progressively worsens, accompanied by obvious pain when swallowing. In severe cases, severe pain in the throat may occur due to twisting of the neck.

2. Dysphagia: Due to the swelling and pain of the epiglottis, patients may experience difficulty or pain in swallowing, and even have difficulty swallowing saliva, and may experience symptoms such as choking when drinking water and drooling when opening the mouth.

3. Dyspnea: When the epiglottis is highly swollen and the glottis becomes smaller, combined with phlegm obstruction, inspiratory dyspnea accompanied by inspiratory laryngitis may occur. In severe cases, dyspnea occurs early and progresses rapidly, and suffocation may occur within a few hours.

4. Fever: Symptoms such as fever, chills and sweating may occur.

5. Submandibular swelling: Swelling and tenderness may occur under the jaw.

6. Slurred pronunciation: The epiglottis is severely edematous, the patient has a feeling of throat obstruction, and the speech is unclear.

What factors can induce acute epiglottitis?

1. Bacterial infection, viral infection;

2. Allergic patients may also experience epiglottal symptoms after exposure to allergens;

3. External trauma to the larynx or inhalation of high temperature or harmful gases can also damage the epiglottis.

In addition, the epiglottis itself may develop cysts, tumors, etc., and sudden infection may cause acute changes.

How to distinguish common laryngitis from acute epiglottitis?

Sore throats caused by colds generally do not hinder breathing or cause symptoms of airway obstruction. In addition to severe sore throats, patients with acute epiglottitis also experience a foreign body sensation and obstruction in the throat in the early stages, followed by labored breathing and difficulty swallowing in the later stages. In severe cases, this can cause difficulty breathing or even suffocation. Acute epiglottitis occurs and develops very quickly, with inspiratory stridor (abnormal breathing sounds when inhaling) often occurring within 24 hours of onset. If acute throat swelling and pain persists and is accompanied by swallowing difficulties, you should seek medical attention immediately.

At present, there is no other self-help method for acute epiglottitis. If the above symptoms occur, you should go to the ENT department of the hospital as soon as possible. Because acute epiglottitis is very dangerous, treatment must race against time.

How to prevent acute epiglottitis?

⒈Maintain good hygiene habits, wash your hands frequently, and avoid contact with viruses and bacteria.

⒉ Avoid smoking and drinking, as these habits weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.

⒊ Maintain healthy eating and living habits to enhance the body’s immunity.

⒋ Avoid contact with patients who have been infected with acute epiglottitis.

Acute epiglottitis can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene and a healthy lifestyle.