Epiglottitis

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Children ages 2 to 6 are most susceptible to epiglottitis caused by Hib, but since routine childhood Hib immunizations began in the mid-1980s, the number of children with epiglottitis has dropped dramatically. Today the condition affects about one of every 100,000 adults a year and even fewer children.

It's difficult to predict who might develop epiglottitis, but certain factors increase the risk.

  • Sex. Epiglottitis affects more males than females.
  • Crowded conditions. Hib bacteria spread rapidly when people are in close contact, such as in child care centers, and even in households where one person has been infected. If someone in your family has been infected with Hib, all family members need to be evaluated by a physician and receive preventive treatment, if necessary.
  • Weak immune system. If your immune system has been weakened by illness or medication, you're more susceptible to the bacterial infections that may cause epiglottitis.

DS00529

May 3, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger