What this deck covers
Epiglottitis in ten clinical teaching cases with worked explanations. Each case gives you a clinical vignette, four options, the correct answer, and an explanation of why each of the other three is wrong.
Diagnoses and management options tested
Across the ten cases you are asked to choose between options such as: Acute Epiglottitis, Viral Croup, Retropharyngeal Abscess, Bacterial Tracheitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Staphylococcus aureus, Group A Streptococcus, Subglottic space and vocal cords, Palatine tonsils and peritonsillar tissue, Tracheal mucosa and subglottic region, Epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds, Thumbprint sign, Steeple sign, Prevertebral soft tissue widening, Shaggy appearance of the trachea, Use of accessory muscles for breathing, High fever and absence of barking cough, Response to nebulized racemic epinephrine, Positive blood cultures for Haemophilus influenzae, Bedside flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy, Oral Amoxicillin, Intravenous Penicillin G, Intravenous Vancomycin alone, Intravenous Ceftriaxone plus Vancomycin, Rifampin prophylaxis for all household members.
Clinical pearls from this deck
- The classic picture — the four Ds: Drooling, Dysphagia, Dysphonia (muffled “hot-potato” voice), and Distressed inspiratory stridor — plus the tripod position, high fever, toxic appearance, rapid onset over hours, and crucially no barking cough. The absent barking cough is what most strongly separates epiglottitis from croup.
- The single most important principle — keep the child calm. The supraglottic airway is critically narrowed; any agitation can trigger laryngospasm and complete obstruction in seconds. No tongue depressor, no forced supine position, no IV/bloods before the airway is secured. Keep the child with the caregiver, offer blow-by oxygen, and mobilize the airway team (anesthesia, ENT, PICU) for controlled OR management.
The ten worked cases in this deck, with the images and the full explanation of every option, are part of Pediatric Case Review membership. See what is included.
More from this system: all ent decks and question sets · pediatric reference values.
