Clinical Diagnosis · Respiratory System · Medium
Epiglottitis
Meaning: A potentially life-threatening swelling of the flap that covers the windpipe, which can rapidly block the airway.
In practice: The drooling child sitting forward with stridor was managed as suspected epiglottitis.
Word parts
- epi- means on or above
- -itis means inflammation
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
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