Acute epiglottitis in adults.

Acute epiglottitis in adults is a serious, often rapidly fatal disease, unless diagnosed promptly. Any adult with pain the the throat out of proportion to the visible signs of pharyngitis should have a right and left lateral soft tissue radiograph of the neck and/or indirect laryngoscopy. When expertly interpreted, the roentgenograms can be of inestimable value. Appropriate therapy, including antibiotics and possibly a tracheostomy, should be started immediately.