I Have a Sore Throat: Could it Be Epiglottitis?

If you're experiencing abnormal breathing sounds, hoarseness in your voice or your throat is so sore you can't swallow, you might have epiglottitis.

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Acute Epiglottitis: What is It?

Acute epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottitis, which is the tissue that covers the trachea (windpipe) at the back of the tongue. "It's a sore throat that's above any other one - to the point that you can't swallow. You can't even swallow your own spit," says Umesh Marathe MD, an otolaryngology doctor at Group Health.

Other symptoms include:

• Fever
• Blue skin color (cyanosis)
• Drooling
• Difficulty breathing (patient may need to sit upright and lean slightly forward to breathe)

Acute Epiglottitis: The History

Dr. Marathe says acute epiglottitis starts as a viral infection that becomes bacterial. The infection used to occur - mainly - in women and children; however, a vaccine in the early 1980s nearly wiped it out.

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Now, it's more typical in men in their forties.

While it's important to be aware of epiglottitis, Dr. Marathe says not to panic, because it's not very common. Additionally, he says if you know the early warning signs, notice you have symptoms, and seek appropriate treatment, it's very treatable.

Treatment typically involves IV antibiotics, administered in an intensive care unit.

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