Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with epiglottitis, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden severe sore throat with fever, drooling, muffled voice, and difficulty swallowing — often in older children or adults.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 now. Sit upright. Stay calm. Nothing in mouth. Do not look in throat.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden high fever with severe throat pain and difficulty swallowing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Drooling because they cannot swallow saliva.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Muffled or hot-potato voice, leaning forward, anxious appearance.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stridor — noisy breathing when inhaling.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The flap at the base of the tongue (epiglottis) swells and can block the airway completely.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — This is different from mild sore throat — person looks toxic, drools, and sits forward afraid to lie down.
Check the scene before you approach.
Avoid anything that upsets the person — crying or gagging can close the airway.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 on speaker immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell the person to stay still and breathe slowly — panic closes the airway faster.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help them sit upright leaning forward (tripod). Never lay them flat.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove nothing from mouth and do not attempt to look down throat.
When and how to get professional help.
Any suspected epiglottitis is an immediate airway emergency.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep calm positioning and call for advanced airway care. Do not use tongue depressors, fingers, or oral medicines.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Suspected epiglottitis — drooling, cannot swallow, stridor. Need airway emergency."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Give age, fever level if known, and current breathing status.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use a tongue depressor, flashlight exam, or finger in throat — can trigger complete obstruction.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give water, medicine, or food by mouth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT transport in a lying position in a private car if avoidable — ambulance has airway equipment.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should look in the throat to see what is wrong
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Examining the throat can cause laryngospasm and complete airway closure in epiglottitis. Diagnosis is clinical — call 112.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Asthma attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person with asthma is wheezing, coughing, and struggling to breathe. Their usual inhaler is not enough.
Smoke inhalation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was in a fire, burning building, or heavy smoke and now has cough, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing.
Hard to breathe
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is breathing fast, shallow, or with great effort. They may feel they cannot get enough air.
Strangulation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was choked by hand, rope, cord, or fabric around the neck. They may be unconscious or have voice changes and bruising.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Monitor breathing continuously until paramedics arrive.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Epiglottitis requires hospital airway management — intubation may be needed. This cannot be treated at home.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If the person collapses or stops breathing, start CPR — but keep the head and neck as stable as possible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Triggering fatal airway obstruction during examination.