Thermal epiglottitis after swallowing hot tea.

Acute infectious epiglottitis in children is a well-recognized clinical entity. We report the development of acute thermal epiglottitis after ingestion of hot tea by a three-year-old patient. Clinical and radiographic findings in our patient and others reported in the literature resemble acute infectious epiglottitis. In all cases of burns around the mouth, the possibility of intraoral and respiratory damage must be considered. Because of the high risk of upper airway obstruction, children in whom thermal epiglottitis is suspected should be observed in the intensive care unit and have appropriate airway management.