Prepare for the Florida State Paramedic Exam with interactive quizzes and detailed explanations. Test your medical knowledge and boost your confidence. Ace your exam with proven study materials!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What are symptoms of epiglottitis?

  1. Dry cough and wheezing

  2. High fever and drooling

  3. Chest pain and shortness of breath

  4. Mucus production and fever

The correct answer is: High fever and drooling

High fever and drooling are classic symptoms of epiglottitis, which is an inflammation of the epiglottis, often caused by infection. The high fever indicates a systemic response to infection, common in conditions affecting the airway. Drooling occurs as a result of difficulty swallowing, which is a characteristic symptom in patients with epiglottitis due to swelling and obstructed airflow making it painful to swallow. This combination of symptoms is particularly concerning and indicative of the potential for airway obstruction, which is a critical condition requiring immediate medical attention. In contrast, dry cough and wheezing are more commonly associated with conditions like asthma or bronchitis, chest pain and shortness of breath may suggest cardiac issues or severe respiratory problems, and mucus production and fever could be seen in a variety of respiratory infections but lack the specific association with epiglottitis.