[Thermal epiglottitis in a 3-month-old infant following feeding of hot vegetables]

A thermal epiglottitis after feeding hot food is a rare event in infancy. A 3 month old infant developed typical symptoms of an acute epiglottitis after feeding him hot vegetables. The child was intubated and treated with steroids and antibiotics. A laryngo-tracheobronchoscopy was performed. After 48 h he was extubated.

[Neonatal pneumococcus laryngitis]

Report of a case of laryngitis beginning within the first 10 hours of life. The epiglottis was red, swollen, and covered by a membrane. Culture of laryngeal swabs isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae. Complete recovery was obtained with antibiotic therapy.

Lingual thyroid and associated epiglottitis

A relatively rare genetic anomaly, lingual thyroid has a reported incidence of 1:100,000. Histologically, it may consist of normal or fetal-type tissue, and may show lymphoid infiltration. Differential diagnosis should include consideration of various benign and malignant diseases. We review diagnostic procedures as well as medical and surgical management, and present an illustrative case of lingual thyroid with associated epiglottitis.

Prevention of sore throat after nasotracheal intubation

The influence of tube size, cuff inflation, and pharyngeal packing on development of sore throat after nasotracheal intubation was studied. Pharyngeal packing was found to be the most significant factor, followed by tube size and inflation of the cuff.

Late endemic syphilis: case report of bejel with gummatous laryngitis

An elderly Bedouin woman originally thought, on clinical and histological grounds, to have tuberculosis of the larynx was found to have gummatous laryngitis due to late endemic syphilis (bejel). This disease is highly prevalent in the Bedouin tribes of the Middle East. Doctors dealing with Arab patients, either in the Middle East or elsewhere, should be aware of this possibility.

Chronic herpetic laryngitis with oropharyngitis

Chronic herpetic laryngitis, with or without involvement of the oropharynx, is uncommon. We describe a case that was initially diagnosed and treated as squamous cell carcinoma. The subsequent course of the disease, review of the histologic material, and additional laboratory investigation suggested that the lesion was of viral origin and probably was caused by herpes simplex.

The sore throat. Pharyngitis and epiglottitis

Sore throat can be caused by different microorganisms and diseases. Most cases of acute pharyngitis are caused by group A streptococcus or viruses; however, uncommon organisms may be suggested by other clinical information or the persistence of symptoms. A thorough history and physical examination are essential for the appropriate selection of diagnostic tests for sore throat. Routine testing for the uncomplicated case should consist of a pharyngeal culture in most patients, with rapid streptococcal antigen testing only for the more severe cases. Those with positive streptococcal tests should be treated to prevent rheumatic fever and mitigate symptoms in severe cases. Sore throat caused by viruses usually resolves spontaneously. Cases that persist should be thoroughly re-evaluated, with alternative causes being considered. Acute epiglottitis is a medical emergency and requires treatment with appropriate antibiotics for Hemophilus influenzae type b and intubation.

Otolaryngologic manifestations of chronic granulomatous disease

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have a greatly increased incidence of infection, particularly in the region of the head and neck. For this reason the health care team treating the patient with CGD often includes an otolaryngologist. Because the disease process is associated with an altered host defense mechanism, standard medical and surgical plans must often be modified. In this paper, a representative case is presented illustrating the symptoms, clinical course, and therapeutic regimen of a typical patient. The necessity for aggressive treatment is emphasized.

Adult supraglottitis. A prospective analysis

Epiglottitis in pediatric patients is an infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can lead rapidly to sepsis and an asphyxial death. In an effort to study the cause and clinical course of adult epiglottitis, eight serially hospitalized adult patients with supraglottitis over a ten-month period were prospectively evaluated, including a daily laryngeal examination. Although multiple anatomic sites in the larynx and oropharynx were inflamed, the epiglottis was often not the most involved area and was actually normal in one patient. Bacterial cultures were harvested from blood, the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the vallecula in all patients and the preepiglottic space in two patients. In no case was H influenzae demonstrated. No patient developed respiratory compromise. It was concluded that epiglottitis is an inaccurate description of this disorder and that this non-H influenzae adult variety of supraglottitis seemingly can follow a less pernicious course than the classically described infection.