Please visit our sponsor:
Click here for more information

Epiglottitis: A 4-year-old child presented with the sudden onset of fever, drooling, and stridor. A lateral radiographic view of the soft tissues of the neck demonstrates swollen anterior supraglottic structures at the level of the hyoid bone consistent with epiglottitis. This radiographic finding is also known as the thumb sign of epiglottis. Epiglottitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the supraglottic structures that is usually caused by Haemophilus influencae type B, although Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Pneumococcus have been isolated. (L.S.)