[Unexpected fatalities in childhood caused by acute epiglottitis].

Report on two deaths from a natural internal cause in children beyond the first year of life. The children (a two-year and a three-year old boy), who seemed completely healthy, sudden suffered from acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract with dyspnea, inspiratory stridor, fever, dysphagia, and flow of saliva. The disease took a fulminant course and the children died within a few hours showing symptoms of intense dyspnea and cyanosis. The above symptoms and progress were typical of acute epiglottitis. Autopsy revealed an intense inflammation and tumescence of the epiglottis in both cases. The diagnosis of epiglottitis was confirmed histologically and bacteriologically (Haemophilus influenzae).