Paediatric epiglottitis: the influence of the Haemophilus influenzae b vaccine, a ten-year review in the Sheffield region

Cases of acute epiglottitis in children have become very uncommon in recent years. This study set out to find whether the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) vaccine in the UK in October 1992 has influenced the incidence of acute epiglottitis in the Sheffield region, and whether the pathogenesis has altered. A 10-year retrospective case note review was undertaken. A total of 30 children were treated for acute epiglottitis in Sheffield Children's Hospital over that time period. A sharp decline in the number of cases was found after the vaccine was introduced. Most children presenting with the disease after October 1992 had not been vaccinated. In addition, the pathogens isolated in those children who had received the vaccine were all Streptococci. This is the first study in the UK to examine the influence of the Hib vaccine on acute paediatric epiglottitis.