tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Auris Nasus Larynx
. 2021 Dec 18;S0385-8146(21)00283-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2021.12.007. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 presenting as acute epiglottitis: A case report and literature review
Shusuke Iwamoto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mitsuo P Sato[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yujiro Hoshi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Naoki Otsuki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katsumi Doi[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occasionally causes acute laryngitis, requiring emergency treatment. Understanding the characteristic laryngeal findings can help diagnose COVID-19 earlier, prevent worsening infection, and properly manage airway obstruction. Herein, we report the case of a 44-year-old male with acute epiglottitis likely caused by COVID-19. On presentation, chest computed tomography (CT) showed no signs of pneumonia. However, the larynx had extensive necrotic-like erosive lesions resembling those of tuberculous laryngitis. COVID-19 was diagnosed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and secondary bacterial superinfections were suspected after blood testing. The symptoms improved after administration of antibiotics (sulbactam sodium/ampicillin sodium), steroids (dexamethasone), and favipiravir. The patient developed a high fever on the sixth day of hospitalization, and pneumonia was identified on CT. Various culture tests, including tuberculosis, were negative. Thus, remdesivir was administered for COVID-19-induced pneumonia. The patient gradually recovered, was transferred to another hospital, and was discharged on the 35th day of hospitalization. Six previous case reports of COVID-19-induced acute epiglottitis suggested that acute epiglottitis preceded the onset of pneumonia. The laryngeal findings from this report may be useful for diagnosing COVID-19 that does not cause pneumonia and for bringing attention to pneumonia after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Keywords: Acute epiglottitis; COVID-19; Pneumonia; Tuberculous laryngitis.
. 2021 Dec 18;S0385-8146(21)00283-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2021.12.007. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 presenting as acute epiglottitis: A case report and literature review
Shusuke Iwamoto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mitsuo P Sato[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yujiro Hoshi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Naoki Otsuki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katsumi Doi[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34986973
- DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2021.12.007
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occasionally causes acute laryngitis, requiring emergency treatment. Understanding the characteristic laryngeal findings can help diagnose COVID-19 earlier, prevent worsening infection, and properly manage airway obstruction. Herein, we report the case of a 44-year-old male with acute epiglottitis likely caused by COVID-19. On presentation, chest computed tomography (CT) showed no signs of pneumonia. However, the larynx had extensive necrotic-like erosive lesions resembling those of tuberculous laryngitis. COVID-19 was diagnosed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and secondary bacterial superinfections were suspected after blood testing. The symptoms improved after administration of antibiotics (sulbactam sodium/ampicillin sodium), steroids (dexamethasone), and favipiravir. The patient developed a high fever on the sixth day of hospitalization, and pneumonia was identified on CT. Various culture tests, including tuberculosis, were negative. Thus, remdesivir was administered for COVID-19-induced pneumonia. The patient gradually recovered, was transferred to another hospital, and was discharged on the 35th day of hospitalization. Six previous case reports of COVID-19-induced acute epiglottitis suggested that acute epiglottitis preceded the onset of pneumonia. The laryngeal findings from this report may be useful for diagnosing COVID-19 that does not cause pneumonia and for bringing attention to pneumonia after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Keywords: Acute epiglottitis; COVID-19; Pneumonia; Tuberculous laryngitis.