Emergency Medicine

Answer 3 Keep the child in a position of comfort pending endotracheal intubation. The case patient has presented with the clinical triad of epiglottitis (ie, drooling, dysphagia, distress). The first priority is to secure the airway. The child should be allowed to assume a position of comfort. Endotracheal intubation can be difficult for a toxic child with epiglottitis; therefore, assistance should be sought from a surgeon and/or an anesthesiologist with experience in difficult airways and intubation. Once the patient is intubated, an intravenous line can be inserted and antibiotics can be administered. All further examinations can then be performed. Click here to return to the questions

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