Acute epiglottitis: a presentation of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

The incidence of acute epiglottitis in children has declined with the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae b vaccine in 1992. We report a case of acute epiglottitis in a child secondary to an immunocompromised state. We suggest that when acute epiglottitis is diagnosed in a child we should ensure there is no underlying predisposing condition.