Epiglottitis

Epiglottitis requires immediate emergency care to prevent your child from stopping breathing. Once your child is being monitored, the airway is safe and antibiotics are started, the disease usually stops progressing within 24 hours. Complete recovery takes longer and depends on each child's condition.

Treatment may include:

• closely monitoring your child's airway
• if needed, assisting your child's breathing with machines
• intravenous (IV) therapy with antibiotics to treat the infection
• steroid medication (to reduce airway swelling)
• intravenous (IV) fluids, until the child can swallow again

If your child is diagnosed with epiglottitis, your family or other close contacts are usually treated with a medication called Rifampin, to prevent the disease in those people who might have been exposed.