Epiglottitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b in the vaccination era: Pediatric clinical case

Abstract

Acute infectious epiglottitis is infrequent at present due to vaccination for its main etiologic agent, Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib). It must be taken into account when we make a differential diagnosis in a child whose clinical symptoms are respiratory distress, stridor, dysphonia and fever. We report a 2-year-old child, previously healthy, whose vaccination calendar was complete, and whose clinical presentation included respiratory distress and stridor; at the moment of the intubation the laryngoscopy showed an acute epiglottitis. Blood cultures were taken, which were positive for Hib. He was treated with ceftriaxone during 13 days, and the control blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid were negative.