Epiglottitis

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Epiglottitis is inflammation (swelling) of the epiglottis. The epiglottis is a flap of muscular tissue that closes off the entry to your voice box when you swallow. It normally stops food going down the wrong way, into your air tubes. If the epiglottis gets swollen, it may make breathing difficult. If it is not treated, this condition can cause death through lack of oxygen getting into the lungs, so if epiglottitis is suspected, it should be treated as an emergency. If you suspect epiglottitis, call 999 for an ambulance.

Epiglottisis also sometimes called acute supraglottitis. This means inflammation of the part of the windpipe above the voice box. Sometimes this part of the windpipe can get swollen and cause similar symptoms, without actually involving the epiglottis.

Epiglottitis is most common in children between two and seven years old. Itâ€™s rare in the UK because children are vaccinated against Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B), the bacteria that commonly cause epiglottitis.