Acute epiglottitis presenting as the sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
A 49-year-old man presented with dysphagia and the sensation of a foreign body in the throat, after he had swallowed chicken meat that contained bones during the previous evening. There were no respiratory symptoms. A plain lateral soft-tissue X-ray of the neck and oesophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a grossly swollen epiglottis. His condition improved rapidly with intravenous antibiotic therapy. As acute epiglottitis may be a sudden life-threatening condition, a high index of suspicion should be maintained for patients who present with an obstructive sensation in the throat.
Chung
C H
CH
Accident and Emergency Department, North District Hospital, Sheung Shui, New Territories, Hong Kong.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone