気道確保を必要とした小児急性喉頭蓋炎の2例

抄録

Acute epiglottitis can produce airway obstruction, so we must usually treat these patients immediately with airway control. In Japan, acute epiglottitis in adults is common, but acute epiglottitis in children is very rare. In this paper, 2 cases of acute epiglottitis in children are reported.
One patient was a 3-year-old boy. He visited our hospital complaining of dyspnea, trouble with speaking and stridor. Fiberscope examination of the larynx revealed severe swollen epiglottis, so we diagnosed acute epiglottitis. We immediately performed a tracheotomy to maintain the airway. After 5 days, the swollen epiglottis had improved and the patient recovered completely within 10 days. We detected Haemophilus influenzae from the blood cultures.
The other patient was a 2-year-old girl. She visited our hospital complaining of dyspnea and stridor. Fiberscope examination of the larynx revealed a moderately swollen epiglottis, so we diagnosed acute epiglottitis. We immediately performed tracheal intubation to maintain the airway. The next day, the swollen epiglottis had improved and she recovered completely within 10 days. We detected Haemophilus influenzae from the blood cultures.
We describe the diagnosis and treatment of acute epigolottitis in children, especially with regard to airway control.