Epiglottitis
Pediatrics: Respiratory
Pathophysiology
Epiglottis is a DEADLY medical emergency, where severe & sudden
inflammation near the epiglottis blocks the child's airway!
Inflamed
epiglottis
The epiglottis is the flap in the throat that prevents food entering
the trachea. When it gets inflamed it blocks the airway quickly! Tongue
Children can present with no symptoms, to having a completely
Airway
occluded airway within hours!
Signs & Symptoms HESI Question
Kaplan Question
Q1: Which clinical manifestations are
The 4 year old with... acute
appropriate for acute epiglottitis?
Anxious & restless behavior Select all that apply.
epiglottitis. Which assessment finding
is most significant?
● Pain ● Drooling of saliva
● Fever
Stridor (squeak) NCLEX TIP ● Drooling
● Tripod position
Fever, drooling, & tripod
Q2: Which student action will the
positioning NCLEX TIP nurse need to correct when
● A school-age child who has
caring for a child with epiglottitis?
acute epiglottitis, is drooling,
● Take an oral temperature and has an absence of
spontaneous cough
Q2: … 4 year old child who has
epiglottitis…. action should the
nurse take?
● Monitor oxygen saturation
Causes & Risk Factors
Epiglottitis affects more males than
females.
A lot of students get this wrong!
Haemophilus influenza
type B (HiB)
Missing standard
vaccinations NCLEX TIP
Interventions & Education FIRST
HESI Question
Which treatment is
4 NCLEX TIPS appropriate for the child
with epiglottitis and severe
Airway respiratory distress?
1. Priority = AIRWAY! ● Nasotracheal intubation
or tracheostomy
2. NO throat inspection & NO
oral temp
Until endotracheal intubation
& tracheostomy kit is ready
3. Tripod position
4. GET standard immunizations
Pediatrics: Respiratory
Pathophysiology
Epiglottis is a DEADLY medical emergency, where severe & sudden
inflammation near the epiglottis blocks the child's airway!
Inflamed
epiglottis
The epiglottis is the flap in the throat that prevents food entering
the trachea. When it gets inflamed it blocks the airway quickly! Tongue
Children can present with no symptoms, to having a completely
Airway
occluded airway within hours!
Signs & Symptoms HESI Question
Kaplan Question
Q1: Which clinical manifestations are
The 4 year old with... acute
appropriate for acute epiglottitis?
Anxious & restless behavior Select all that apply.
epiglottitis. Which assessment finding
is most significant?
● Pain ● Drooling of saliva
● Fever
Stridor (squeak) NCLEX TIP ● Drooling
● Tripod position
Fever, drooling, & tripod
Q2: Which student action will the
positioning NCLEX TIP nurse need to correct when
● A school-age child who has
caring for a child with epiglottitis?
acute epiglottitis, is drooling,
● Take an oral temperature and has an absence of
spontaneous cough
Q2: … 4 year old child who has
epiglottitis…. action should the
nurse take?
● Monitor oxygen saturation
Causes & Risk Factors
Epiglottitis affects more males than
females.
A lot of students get this wrong!
Haemophilus influenza
type B (HiB)
Missing standard
vaccinations NCLEX TIP
Interventions & Education FIRST
HESI Question
Which treatment is
4 NCLEX TIPS appropriate for the child
with epiglottitis and severe
Airway respiratory distress?
1. Priority = AIRWAY! ● Nasotracheal intubation
or tracheostomy
2. NO throat inspection & NO
oral temp
Until endotracheal intubation
& tracheostomy kit is ready
3. Tripod position
4. GET standard immunizations
