acute epiglotittis (comparison with croup)
Last reviewed 12/2022
| feature | epiglottitis | croup |
|---|---|---|
| organism | H.
influenzae | parainfluenza virus
|
| age | generally
2-6 years old, may occur in older children and adults | generally
less than 2 years old, may occur in children 6 months to 6 years |
| onset | rapid | gradual |
| site | supraglottic | subglottic |
| temperature | high
fever | low grade fever |
| dysphagia | severe | absent
(mild) |
| dispnoea | +++ | variable |
| drooling | present | not
present |
| stridor | inspiratory
or expiratory | mainly inspiratory
|
| lymph nodes | +++ | + |
| cough | not
common | barking cough |
| voice | muffled | hoarse |
| posture | sitting
forward | lying down
|
| behaviour | quiet;
terrified | struggling |
| colour |
|
|
| X-ray |
|
|
| previous attack |
|
|
Note :
- thumb sign - enlarged round epiglottis which looks like a thumb print
- steeple sign - see investigations (croup)
Reference: