Acute airway obstruction in a seven-month-old infant with epiglottitis.

A seven-month-old male infant with epiglottitis developed acute airway obstruction in the operating room during halothane induction. This case suggests that epiglottitis should be suspected in any child, regardless of age, who presents with stridor, respiratory distress, dysphagia, or "tripoding," and it reiterates the need for prompt airway management.