Acute infectious supraglottitis in adults.

We report two cases of acute infectious supraglottitis in adults seen recently in our emergency department. The recent literature appropriate to the diagnosis and treatment of the entity is reviewed. In each of our cases the diagnosis was established with indirect laryngoscopy in the emergency department and appropriate therapy instituted without delay. Supraglottitis in adults is increasing in prevalence and emergency physicians must be familiar with the diagnosis and early management of such patients.