early management
Last reviewed 01/2018
- the child is anaesthetised without using paralysing agent which may abolish
the remaining airway. An inhalational anaesthetic is used
- the child is then examined by direct laryngoscopy and intubated if necessary
- if the airway cannot be secured then an ENT surgeon may have to perform
an emergency tracheostomy
- blood samples and swabs are taken at this stage
- intravenous access should be left until the airway is secured, unless there
is collapse
- treatment for confirmed diagnosis is chloramphenicol, or cefotaxime, dependent upon sensitivities of local Haemophilus influenzae B strain. Empirical treatment of choice is often chloramphenicol