The patient was febrile on presentation to 38.1ºC, with elevated WBC count to 13.8. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed an erythematous and swollen epiglottis. The patient was taken to the OR emergently for awake tracheostomy. The patient improved on IV antibiotics and was discharged with augmentin. Rapid Group A Strep test was negative. Respiratory, throat and AFB cultures demonstrated no growth. 

This case was submitted with supervision and input from:

Soni C. Chawla, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Radiological Sciences
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Olive View - UCLA Medical Center