UNILATERAL SUPRAGLOTTITIS IN ADULTS - FACT OR FICTION

Supraglottitis and epiglottitis have been described for many years by various authors. Haemophilus influenzae type b is the primary cause of childhood epiglottitis, which classically appears between the ages of 2 and 4 years. Onset is usually acute and the presentation can be dra matic with drooling, high temperatures, and strider. Compared to child hood supraglottitis, adult supraglottitis usually pursues a more indol ent course with no significant airway compromise and no identifiable p athogen. Rarely, adult supraglottitis can resemble its childhood count erpart with acute respiratory compromise secondary to H. influenzae in fection. Although most incidences of adult supraglottitis are infectio us in origin and involve the entire supraglottis and epiglottis, we pr esent two cases of unilateral supraglottitis caused by inhalation of a hot wire screen used as a filter for smoking crack cocaine.