Which signs are associated with epiglottitis?

• A. High fever, drooling, stridor, and tripod position in a child
• B. Fever and barking cough in a pediatric patient
• C. Cough with green, red, or rust-colored sputum and localized crackles
• D. Sudden chest pain with dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema

Answer: (A)

Epiglottitis is an acute infection causing swelling of the epiglottis and a threatened airway. The key signs are sudden high fever, drooling, inspiratory stridor, and a child who sits forward in a tripod position to keep the airway open. Drooling reflects painful swallowing from the inflamed epiglottis, while stridor comes from a narrowed supraglottic airway. The tripod stance helps recruit neck and chest muscles to improve airway patency and reduce work of breathing. This pattern helps distinguish epiglottitis from other pediatric airway issues, such as a barking cough typical of croup, pneumonia signs like productive cough with crackles, or chest pain with dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema seen in pneumothorax or esophageal rupture.