What is a characteristic symptom of epiglottitis?

A characteristic symptom of epiglottitis is toxicity and drooling saliva. In children with this condition, the inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis can lead to difficulty in swallowing and an inability to manage saliva effectively, which results in drooling. Toxicity, indicated by signs such as lethargy, high fever, and irritability, reflects the severity of the infection and the child's overall condition.

In epiglottitis, the classic presentation includes the child appearing very ill, often with a "tripod" position to ease breathing, but drooling is particularly notable. While other symptoms may be present as well, such as stridor, they don’t encapsulate the unique combination of severe toxicity and difficulty handling secretions that is so telling of epiglottitis.

Fever alone, stridor, and severe cough can occur in other respiratory conditions and are not as specific to epiglottitis as the combination of toxicity and drooling.