Epiglottitis: A 9-Year Case Review

Abstract

A retrospective chart review of all cases of suspected epiglottitis from 1985 to 1993 at Arkansas Children's Hospital identified 29 patients treated for epiglottitis during this 9-year period. Review of the immunization status of these patients showed 72% without Hib vaccination, 11% who had initiated the Hib series, and 17% with unknown immunization status. The incidence of epiglottitis declined over the duration of the study with 0.61/1,000 admissions in 1985, 0.27 in 1986, 1.42 in 1987, 0.9 in 1988, 0.39 in 1989, 0.0 in 1990, 0.35 in 1991, 0.0 in 1992, and 0.0 in 1993. Comparing the years before available conjugate vaccine--1985 to 1988--with the years after conjugate vaccine--1989 to 1993--shows a significant change in the incidence of epiglottitis. With increasing populations of susceptible children receiving Hib immunization, Hib epiglottitis may become a vanishing entity.