Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition: "Epiglottitis" is the inflammation (swelling and redness) of the epiglottis. The epiglottis is a small flap of tissue at the back of the throat that prevents food from entering the windpipe. This condition is a serious medical emergency.

Usage

• "Epiglottitis" is used exclusively as a medical term to describe a specific, acute infection and inflammation.
• It is typically modified by adjectives like "acute," "bacterial," or "severe."
• Example:

Examples

• Noun:
  • Acute epiglottitis can cause life-threatening airway obstruction.
  • The doctor suspected epiglottitis due to the child's high fever and difficulty swallowing.
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was once a common cause of epiglottitis in children.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in differential diagnoses.
  • The symptoms ruled out simple pharyngitis and pointed toward epiglottitis.
• It appears in discussions of medical history and vaccination.
  • The incidence of epiglottitis has decreased significantly since the introduction of the Hib vaccine.

Variants and Related Words

• Epiglottis (noun): The anatomical structure that becomes inflamed.
  • The epiglottis covers the larynx during swallowing.
• Epiglottic (adjective): Relating to the epiglottis.
  • The epiglottic cartilage provides structure.

Synonyms

• Supraglottitis: A more precise medical term sometimes used interchangeably, as the inflammation often affects areas around the epiglottis as well.
• Acute upper airway obstruction (describes the primary danger of the condition, not the condition itself).

Important Note

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this highly specific medical term. Its usage is strictly clinical and formal.

Noun

1. inflammation of the epiglottis; characterized by fever and a severe sore throat and difficulty in swallowing