title: Acute epiglottitis in adults.
abstract: Acute epiglottitis in adults is a serious, often rapidly fatal disease, unless diagnosed promptly. Any adult with pain the the throat out of proportion to the visible signs of pharyngitis should have a right and left lateral soft tissue radiograph of the neck and/or indirect laryngoscopy. When expertly interpreted, the roentgenograms can be of inestimable value. Appropriate therapy, including antibiotics and possibly a tracheostomy, should be started immediately.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D004825:Epiglottis; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography