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Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis is the term used to describe inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis which lies just behind the root of your tongue. It is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The usual symptoms are fever, sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Breathing dififculties can occur. Prompt treatment is needed to ensure that enough oxygen can reach the lungs, and includes antibiotics. If epiglottitis is treated quickly, the outlook is generally very good. Untreated, it can be life-threatening. Since immunisation against Hib was introduced, the number of children who develop epiglottitis in the UK has reduced dramatically.
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Infection leads to inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis. If the epiglottis swells, because of its position in your throat, it can affect your breathing by obstructing (blocking) the passage of air through your larynx to your trachea and your lungs. Epiglottitis can be confused for croup which is a common childhood viral infection affecting the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe). Croup is less dangerous than epiglottitis and improves on its own. See separate leaflet called Croup for more detail.
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Rarely, infection can spread from the epiglottis to other parts of the body, including the ear, the brain, the heart and the lungs.
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