Sudden death due to epiglottic abscess.

Yang, Kyung Moo; Jung, Nak Eun; Kim, Jae Kwon; Kang, Shin Mong

Case Report

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2007;31(1):89-91.
Published online May 31, 2007.

Sudden death due to epiglottic abscess.

Kyung Moo Yang, Nak Eun Jung, Jae Kwon Kim, Shin Mong Kang

¹Division of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Forensic Medicine, Catholic University Medical School, Seoul, Korea. Kangsm@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Acute epiglottitis is a local bacterial infection of the supraglottic area. Epiglottitis is generally caused by organisms which invoke an inflammatory response that develops rapid obstructive edema. The disease rarely progresses to abscess stage, either because medical intervention is sought or death by asphyxiation ensues. A 38-year-old, mentally ill but physically healthy woman died of airway obstruction caused by acute epiglottitis forming an abscess. She died unexpectedly and suddenly showing only minor nonspecific symptoms.

Key Words: acute epiglottitis, epiglottic abscess, sudden death