Epiglottitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Give your child medicine as directed by your doctor.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier at night in the child's room. Place the humidifier out of reach by the bed. Fill it with cool water. Use it for 2 to 3 weeks.
• Try to get your child to drink water, apple juice, tea, gelatin, broth, or ginger-ale. The liquids should be at room temperature. Do not worry about solid food until the child is better.
• Your child needs rest until the infection is gone. He or she can then go back to normal activity.
• Give acetaminophen if the child has a fever.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Your child has a high temperature.
• Your child is not drinking liquids.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• Call 911 or O (operator) for help if your child has any of the following signs: trouble breathing, the skin between the ribs is being sucked in with each breath, or lips or fingernails are turning blue or white.

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Visiting: You may stay with your child to give comfort and support. The child will feel safer with you nearby.
• Room: Your child will be kept from others to keep from spreading the disease. Hospital personnel will wear a face mask and gown around your child, which may seem scary.
• Hand Washing: Wash your hands after visiting to keep from spreading the infection.
• Oxygen: Your child may be placed in a clear plastic mist tent or a high humidity room to help make breathing easier. Oxygen also can be given with a face mask that goes over the mouth and nose.
• Breathing Tube: Your child may need a tube in the nose or throat to help him or her breathe. Oxygen will be given through the tube. It will be left in for about 36 hours and taken out when breathing is easier.
• Pulse Oximeter: Your child may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on the ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in your child's blood.
• Taking Vital Signs: These include temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations (counting breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs. Blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around the arm.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an electrocardiograph (e-lec-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The patches on your child's chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen. This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your child's heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage that could be related to the illness.
• Neck X-Ray: This picture of your child's neck will show the swollen area around the vocal cords. It will help your doctor decide on treatment.
• Laryngoscopy: Your child may have a test called a laryngoscopy (lair-in-GOS-ko-pee). It is done to check on the breathing problems. Before the test, your child will either be put to sleep or be given medicine to make him or her sleepy.
• IV: A tube placed in your child's veins for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Medicines: Your child will get antibiotics to treat the infection. They can be put in the IV or taken by mouth.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your child's hand or from the bend in the elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your child's wrist, elbow, or groin. It is tested for the amount of oxygen in it.

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