Possible Complications
People with epiglottis would experience several complications. These include:
– Spreading infection: In some cases, the bacteria causing epiglottitis would spread to other body parts and trigger other infections, such as blood infection, meningitis, or pneumonia.
– Respiratory failure: When the epiglottis is swollen due to injury or infection, the airway would be narrowed or blocked. As a result, respiratory failure would occur and lead to an excessively high carbon dioxide level or low oxygen level in the blood. This is a fatal condition that requires immediate medical attention.[7]
