Acute epiglottitis despite vaccination with Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine

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Abstract
Summary: We present the case of a 20‐month‐old child who required admission to the intensive care with a presumptive diagnosis of acute laryngo–tracheo‐bronchitis, for the management of acute upper airway obstruction. This child had received a complete course of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine. Subsequent events showed that the diagnosis was not laryngo–tracheo‐bronchitis but acute epiglottitis. We propose that a full course of vaccination is no guarantee against a subsequent illness with Hib and may actually lead to the wrong diagnosis and possibly life‐threatening consequences.