Risk Factors
Several factors would increase the risk of epiglottitis. These include:
– Having a compromised immune system: When a medication or disease weakens the immune system, your body can be more prone to bacterial infections that trigger epiglottitis.
– Gender: Epiglottitis is more common in men than in women
– Lack of vaccination: Skipping or delaying immunization would make your body more prone to Hib bacteria and increase the risk of developing epiglottitis
– Age: The risk is higher in kids younger than 1-year-old. It is because they have not completed vaccination for the Hib bacteria. In general, the condition is especially prevalent in kids between 2 and 6 years old. The risk is also high in the elderly, especially after 85 years old
– Environmental factors: heavily populated areas would increase the exposure to respiratory infections, which subsequently causes epiglottitis [4]
