A very sore throat and fever that turn into sudden, very difficult breathing, with drooling and leaning forward to breathe, may be epiglottitis. The UK National Health Service (NHS) describes it as swelling of the epiglottis, the flap that covers your windpipe when you swallow. It can block the windpipe even when you’re not swallowing, so it is “a medical emergency” that needs hospital treatment straight away. If you suspect it, call 999 (119 in Korea) and stay upright until help arrives. Here is the NHS page on symptoms, hospital treatment and tests, causes and the 4-dose Hib schedule.
1. The main symptom is very difficult breathing that comes on quickly — easier leaning forward, a high-pitched rasping sound breathing in.
2. Call 999 and stay upright — lying down can make it worse; don’t drive yourself to A&E.
3. Usually caused by Hib bacteria — the 6-in-1 vaccine with Hib is given in 4 doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and 18 months.
Symptoms — NHS
The NHS says the main symptom is finding it very difficult to breathe, which usually comes on quickly.
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing | Very fast or slow; easier leaning forward; a high-pitched, rasping sound breathing in | Can be confused with croup; leave the judgement to clinicians (ours) |
| A child’s posture | Won’t lie down; sits leaning forward with the neck pushed out | Don’t force them to lie down |
| Throat and voice | Very sore throat, hoarse (croaky) voice, painful and difficult swallowing, drooling | Not swallowing saliva reads as swelling inside the throat (ours) |
| Temperature | High temperature | — |
| Skin colour | Pale, grey or blue-tinged skin (cyanosis); on brown or black skin easier to see on palms, soles, lips, gums and inside the eyelids | — |
| General | Extremely tired, or very restless and irritable | — |
What to do now — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| You think you or your child has epiglottitis | Call 999 | 119 in Korea |
| While you wait | Stay upright — lying down can make symptoms worse | Keep whatever position is easiest |
| Getting to A&E | Don’t drive yourself | The 999 call handler will advise |
Hospital treatment and tests — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | Usually oxygen through a tube in the nose or a face mask | — |
| Airway | If breathing is very difficult, a breathing tube down the throat or into a hole in the neck (tracheostomy) | — |
| Antibiotics | Antibiotics through a vein if an infection caused it | — |
| Tests | Laryngoscopy (a camera tube to look at the throat), a throat swab, blood tests, an X-ray or CT scan | To see how swollen the windpipe is and the cause |
| Recovery | With treatment most people make a full recovery, but you may stay in hospital for a few days | — |
Causes — NHS
Epiglottitis is usually caused by bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), spread through coughing and sneezing or touching objects and surfaces. Other causes are injuring your throat (being hit in the throat or drinking very hot liquids) and smoking, especially illegal drugs like cannabis or crack cocaine. A weakened immune system may raise your chance of getting it.
In the sentence on how Hib spreads, the page says objects “that have the virus on them”, while the sentence before calls Hib bacteria. We have kept it as bacteria (our note).
Prevention — Hib in 4 doses
| When | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| 8, 12 and 16 weeks | The 6-in-1 vaccine with Hib, part of the UK childhood schedule | 3 doses |
| 18 months | The 4th dose of the same schedule | 4 in all |
| Not vaccinated when young | Ask a GP about getting vaccinated | In Korea, check the Hib line of the infant schedule |
Not smoking also reduces your chance of getting epiglottitis, says the NHS. Other swollen, sore throats are in laryngitis, croup and tonsillitis. Unlike an ordinary sore throat, the difference here is that breathing itself is hard (our note).
Checklist
- ☐ Sudden, very difficult breathing, easier leaning forward?
- ☐ Drooling, hoarse voice, painful swallowing?
- ☐ Then call 999 (119 in Korea); don’t drive yourself
- ☐ While waiting, don’t lie them down; keep them upright
- ☐ Check a child’s Hib doses (8, 12, 16 weeks and 18 months, 4 in all)
Questions that remain
Can adults get it?
The page speaks of “you or your child” and lists smoking, throat injury and a weakened immune system. Adults can get it; the page gives no figures by age.
Is there anything to do at home?
The page gives no home treatment: call 999 and stay upright while you wait.
Sources
- NHS — Epiglottitis — source (page shows: reviewed 27 March 2025, next review due 27 March 2028; checked 28 October 2026). Definition, symptoms (breathing, a child’s posture, throat, skin colour), 999 and staying upright, hospital treatment (oxygen, breathing tube, tracheostomy, antibiotics) and tests, causes (Hib, throat injury, smoking, weak immunity), the 4-dose 6-in-1 vaccine, not smoking.
- Not read. The NHS Hib vaccine page; the Korean infant schedule.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where to check further
- 119 or an emergency department — don’t wait if breathing is hard.
- A paediatrician — check a child’s Hib record.
Written on 28 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
