Acute epiglottitis presenting as the sensation of a foreign body in the throat

CH Chung
Accident and Emergency Department, North District Hospital, Sheung Shui, New Territories, Hong Kong

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.

Hong Kong Med J 2000;6:322-4

Key words: Acute disease; Adult; Epiglottitis/radiography; Foreign bodies; Pharynx