EPIGLOTTITIS - A 9-YEAR CASE REVIEW

A retrospective chart review of all cases of suspected epiglottitis fr om 1985 to 1993 at Arkansas Children's Hospital identified 29 patients treated for epiglottitis during this 9-year period. Review of the imm unization status of these patients showed 72% without Hib vaccination, 11% who had initiated the Hib series, and 17% with unknown immunizati on status. The incidence of epiglottitis declined over the duration of the study with 0.61/1,000 admissions in 1985, 0.27 in 1986, 1.42 in 1 987, 0.9 in 1988, 0.39 in 1989, 0.0 in 1990, 0.35 in 1991, 0.0 in 1992 , and 0.0 in 1993. Comparing the years before available conjugate vacc ine-1985 to 1988-with the years after conjugate vaccine-1989 to 1993-s hows a significant change in the incidence of epiglottitis. With incre asing populations of susceptible children receiving Hib immunization, Hib epiglottitis may become a vanishing entity.