Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae type B epiglottitis.
During 1969-1977, 48 children with blood cultures proved positive for Haemophilus influenzae type B epiglottitis were evaluated and treated. The fatality rate was 2%; one child died and another developed irreversible hypoxic brain damage. Ninety-five percent of the children were intubated and none required tracheostomy. The endotracheal tubes remained in place for 3.3 +/- 1.5 days. Short-term parenteral antimicrobial therapy, 4.0 +/- 1.4 days, was sufficient to eradicate bacteremia and prevent metastatic infectious foci. This report demonstrates the excellent results achieved in the treatment of epiglottitis with brief intubation and parenteral antimicrobial therapy.
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004825:Epiglottis; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy
D002701:Chloramphenicol