Sudden Breathing Difficulty and Severe Sore Throat? What You Need to Know About Epiglottitis

Have you ever heard of someone suddenly getting a severe sore throat, finding it hard to swallow food, and feeling like they are choking? You might even feel worried if your child shows these scary signs. When this happens, it could be a serious condition called epiglottitis. This medical issue is critical, so let us learn all about it together.

Epiglottitis can affect both children and adults. Because it changes how you breathe, it is important to stay calm and know what steps to take. Let us break down what this condition means in simple terms.

What Is Epiglottitis? Let Us Understand It Simply.

Simply put, epiglottitis is the swelling of the epiglottis in your throat. Think of the epiglottis as a thin flap of cartilage near your tongue base. When you eat or drink, it acts like a little door that stops food and liquid from entering your windpipe.

Problems start when this flap swells up due to inflammation. Doctors call this acute epiglottitis. The signs appear very quickly and become severe. Breathing and swallowing become very difficult. If you do not get fast medical care, the swelling can block your airway completely and put your life in danger.

This is very important: If you or someone in your family shows these signs, go to a hospital or emergency room right away. Do not try to treat this at home. This is a true medical emergency!

How Common Is This Condition?

To be honest, epiglottitis is not very common. Even so, it can affect both young children and adults.

Before 1985, before doctors used the Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, vaccine widely, this illness mostly happened to children between ages three and five. The main cause back then was the Hib bacteria. Luckily, because of this vaccine, Hib infections have dropped a lot. Today, in places like the United States, only about 0.5 out of every 100,000 children get it.

However, reports show that cases among adults have increased lately. This is usually caused by non-Hib infections. Generally, about 1 to 4 out of every 100,000 adults in the United States get it.

What Are the Signs of Epiglottitis? How Do We Spot It?

Epiglottitis signs usually start suddenly and get worse fast. Sometimes, older children and adults might take a few days to show full signs. But because young children have very small airways, even a little swelling can cause severe signs to appear without warning.

The most common signs start with four Ds:

• Dysphagia: This means you have a very hard time swallowing food and drinks. It feels stuck in your throat.
• Dysphonia: This means your voice changes, sounds hoarse, or makes talking difficult.
• Drooling: This means saliva drips from your mouth because swallowing is too hard.
• Distress: This means you struggle to breathe, feel choked, and lack enough oxygen.

Other signs may include:

• Severe throat pain.
• A fever of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher.
• A high-pitched whistling sound when you breathe, known as stridor.
• Sitting forward with your mouth open to help you breathe. This is common in young children.
• Feeling very restless or cranky.

Some signs of epiglottitis can look like other conditions, such as croup. But croup is not always an emergency like epiglottitis is. That is why getting an accurate diagnosis and fast treatment matters so much.

Special Focus on Signs in Young Children.

As we mentioned, young children have very delicate airways. Because of this, their condition can get severe very quickly. If you see your child suddenly struggling to breathe, opening their mouth, leaning forward, and drooling, it is a warning sign. In such moments, stay calm and take your child to see a doctor right away.

What Causes Epiglottitis?

The main cause is a bacterial infection.

• For children, the main germ is usually the Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, bacteria.
• For adults, other bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus often cause it.

Other causes can include:

• Viral infections: Viruses like the chickenpox virus, known as varicella-zoster virus, or the herpes simplex virus can weaken your body. This can lead to a second bacterial infection that causes epiglottitis.
• Fungal infections: People with weak immune systems can get this from fungal infections like Candida.
• Throat injuries: A sudden blow to your throat, swallowing an unusual object, or drinking very hot liquids can injure your throat and cause this condition.
• Smoking: Regular cigarettes, vaping, or smoking drugs like crack cocaine can also trigger it.
• Chemical burns: Swallowing toxic chemicals can burn your throat and cause corrosive epiglottitis.

Is Epiglottitis Contagious?

The most important thing to know is that epiglottitis itself does not spread directly from person to person. However, the germs that cause it, such as the Hib bacteria, can pass from one person to another.

Catching a germ like Hib does not mean you will definitely get epiglottitis. The condition only happens if that germ reaches your epiglottis and causes swelling. These germs usually spread through tiny droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Epiglottitis?

Because this is a life-threatening medical emergency, doctors first make sure your breathing is stable. They only run diagnostic tests after confirming you are safe.

Once your condition is stable, doctors may perform these tests:

• Culture tests: A doctor uses a cotton swab to take a sample from your throat and sends it to a lab to check for bacteria or viruses.
• Blood tests: Doctors check your white blood cell count, which helps fight infections, or look for germs in your blood.
• Laryngoscopy: A doctor uses a tiny camera on a thin, flexible tube to look inside your throat at your epiglottis and nearby areas.
• Imaging tests: An X-ray can show the level of swelling. Sometimes, an X-ray shows an enlarged epiglottis that looks like an adult thumb, known as a thumbprint sign.

How Is Epiglottitis Treated?

If doctors confirm you have epiglottitis, they start treatment right away. At the hospital, the medical team will do the following:

• Restore your airway completely: They place an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth to send extra air to your lungs. If your airway is blocked, they may place a breathing tube through your mouth into your windpipe. In rare cases when a tube cannot go through the mouth, they may place a tube through the neck into the windpipe. This is called a tracheostomy, though people with epiglottitis rarely need it.
• Give fluids: They provide the fluids you need through an intravenous drip, often called an IV.
• Provide antibiotics: If you have a bacterial infection, the doctor gives a broad-spectrum antibiotic through your IV. This medicine destroys many types of bacteria that cause the infection. Once lab results return, they may switch to a specific antibiotic that targets your exact germ.

How Can We Protect Ourselves From Epiglottitis?

While you cannot prevent every case, you can lower your risk with these steps:

• Get your child vaccinated: For children, the best protection is getting all scheduled vaccines on time, especially the Hib vaccine. Young children do not have fully developed immune systems yet, so they catch Hib infections easily.
• Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth too much.
• Stay away from infections: Be careful around people who are coughing or sneezing. Keep your distance or wear a face mask.
• Avoid throat injuries: Stay away from things that can harm your throat, such as drinking extremely hot liquids or smoking.

What Happens If You Get Epiglottitis? How Long Does Recovery Take?

Most people recover completely from epiglottitis in about a week. You may need to stay in the hospital for three to five days. Even so, you will start feeling better within the first few days. If you needed a breathing tube, you can usually breathe on your own again after a few days.

If an infection caused your condition, it is very important to finish your full course of antibiotics, usually for about seven days, to destroy the bacteria completely.

Remember the most important thing: Swelling of the epiglottis is a medical emergency! If you think you or someone you know has signs of epiglottitis, call 911, 999, or your local emergency number right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

When Should You See a Doctor? What Should We Do?

If swelling blocks your airway, epiglottitis can threaten your life. Because of this, if you think you or someone else has a swollen epiglottis, seek emergency care right away.

Never do these things:

• Do not lay someone with epiglottitis flat on their back.
• Do not put anything inside their mouth.

These actions can make it even harder for them to breathe.

Do this instead:

• Try to stay as calm as possible. Stress can make throat narrowing worse.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor.

Before leaving the hospital, you can ask your doctor these questions:

• What caused my epiglottitis?
• How long do I need to take my antibiotics?
• How should I care for my throat during recovery?
• How long should I avoid lying flat?
• Will I need to come back for follow-up visits?
• How can I lower my risk of getting this condition again in the future?

Take-Home Message.

If you or a loved one shows signs of epiglottitis, do not wait to get emergency care. If you are unsure whether it is epiglottitis or something else, remember that anyone struggling to breathe or swallow needs emergency help right away.

With quick treatment, most people recover completely from epiglottitis. Taking action quickly is the most important part. Stay informed about these signs and seek help fast when needed. Wishing you and your family good health!

Sources & References:

• Mayo Clinic. Epiglottitis: Symptoms and Causes. Available from: mayoclinic.org.
• Cleveland Clinic. Epiglottitis Overview and Treatment. Available from: clevelandclinic.org.
• National Health Service (NHS UK). Epiglottitis Overview. Available from: nhs.uk.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hib Vaccine and Disease Information. Available from: cdc.gov.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) / PubMed. Acute Epiglottitis in Adults and Children. PMC Free Article.