title: Viral supraglottitis in an adult: a case presentation and literature update.
abstract: Viral epiglottitis (supraglottitis) is a rare entity but its presentation can mimic that of bacterial epiglottis. Regardless of the causative agent, supraglottitis is a serious disease mostly affecting children and rarely seen in adults. Early suspicion and proper evaluation are mandatory to prevent a life-threatening crisis. In both children and adults the infectious aetiology in supraglottitis is predominantly bacterial while viruses are rare, especially in adults. We describe a case of supraglottitis in an adult in which the symptoms were insidious and blood indices suggested a bacterial aetiology. However, laryngoscopic examination revealed an ulcer over the left aryepiglottic fold and serology was positive for Herpes simplex virus (HSV) IgM. Because supraglottitis due to HSV is a rare entity with few reported cases in the literature, this case is presented to highlight the viral involvement in this disease and its management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon. um00@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Musharrafieh
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Araj
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Fuleihan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*