Acute supraglottitis is a potentially life-threatening infection involving supraglottic structures mainly occuring in young infants to cause acute respiratory obstruction but rarely in adults in the past. Recently, however, increasing attention
has
been
given to the adult presentation of this disease.
It is characterized by sudden onset of fever, sore throat, sore throat, severe dyspnea, drooling saliva and respiratory distress.
So initial diagnosis and management are very important to avoid possible life-threatening complications.
The authors have experienced 46 cases of acute supraglottitis diagnosed in adults who were admitted at Ulsan Dong-Kang Hospital for recent 5 years.
@ES The results are as follows;
@EN 1) The age of patients were ranged from 21 to 76 years old. Among the 46 cases, thirty six cases were male and ten cases were female.
2) In seasonal incidence of acute supraglottitis, winter and spring were frequent occuring period.
3) Common symptoms were sore throat, dysphagia.
4) All Forty six cases were inflammed and edematous epiglottis.
5) The hospitalization period was less than 10 days in many cases (42 cases) and longer than 11 days in Four patients who were undergone tracheotomy.
6) For airway management, 4 patients with almost airway obstruction who had muffled voice, cyanosis, inspiratory stridor needed emergency tracheotomy. (Korean J Otolaryngol 38:8, 1995)
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