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Acute epiglottitis despite vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine
Author(s) -
Wagle A.,
Jones R.M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9592.1999.00428.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epiglottitis , vaccination , haemophilus influenzae , bronchitis , pediatrics , airway obstruction , hib vaccine , intensive care medicine , airway , immunization , immunology , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , conjugate vaccine , biology , antibiotics , antigen
Summary We present the case of a 20‐month‐old child who required admission to the intensive care with a presumptive diagnosis of acute laryngo–tracheo‐bronchitis, for the management of acute upper airway obstruction. This child had received a complete course of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine. Subsequent events showed that the diagnosis was not laryngo–tracheo‐bronchitis but acute epiglottitis. We propose that a full course of vaccination is no guarantee against a subsequent illness with Hib and may actually lead to the wrong diagnosis and possibly life‐threatening consequences.