Acute epiglottitis in childhood: report of an increased incidence in Victoria.

The incidence of acute epiglottitis treated in Melbourne, Australia at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) has increased from an average of 14 cases per year during 1975-79 to 49 cases per year during 1980-81. Less marked increases have occurred for H. influenzae meningitis and bacteremia and H. influenzae (untyped) isolation from respiratory tract cultures. A review of 171 cases of acute epiglottitis showed no significant differences between the 1975-79 and 1980-81 patients with respect to sex, age, seasonal incidence, prodromal length, prodromal symptoms, geographical location, polymorphonuclear cell count, or disease severity. Patients treated in 1980-81 had fewer complications (12% versus 22%, p less than 0.02), and a shorter hospital stay (3.0 versus 3.3 days, p less than 0.003). The increased incidence of H. influenzae type b infections may be due to an increased bacterial presence within our community.