CHANGING PATTERNS IN PEDIATRIC SUPRAGLOTTITIS - A MULTIINSTITUTIONAL REVIEW, 1980 TO 1992

Supraglottitis is a rapidly progressive, life-threatening airway emerg ency in pediatric patients typically caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB). With distribution of the first efficacious vaccine for H IB in April 1985, changing disease patterns have begun to emerge; howe ver, certain characteristics have remarkably persisted. The authors re viewed 252 pediatric patients with acute supraglottitis spanning the p revaccination and postvaccination years 1980 to 1992 at three major re gional pediatric hospitals in Massachusetts, Ohio, and California, as well as at two community hospitals in Massachusetts. Findings include a decline in disease prevalence in all geographic areas with demograph ic, etiologic, and management evolution all seen. Children who had bee n immunized yet developed supraglottitis have been examined as pre dic tive of future trends.