Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What are the common symptoms of epiglottitis?

1. Dyspnea, fever, sore throat, cyanosis

2. Chest pain, cough, wheezing, fever

3. Nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue

4. Rapid breathing, chills, rash, dizziness

The correct answer is: Dyspnea, fever, sore throat, cyanosis

The common symptoms of epiglottitis include dyspnea (difficulty breathing), fever, sore throat, and cyanosis (a bluish color of the skin indicating lack of oxygen). Epiglottitis is an inflammation of the epiglottis, which can lead to swelling and airway obstruction. Dyspnea occurs because the swollen epiglottis can block the airway, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. Fever is a common indicator of infection or inflammation in the body, often associated with the body's response to the underlying cause of epiglottitis, which is frequently an infection. A sore throat may develop as the inflammation affects the area around the epiglottis, causing significant discomfort. Cyanosis is a serious symptom that can arise from hypoxia due to airway obstruction, indicating that the body is not receiving adequate oxygen. The other choices feature symptom combinations that align more closely with different respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions but do not specifically capture the classic presentation of epiglottitis. For example, chest pain and wheezing are more typical of asthma or bronchitis, while nausea, vomiting, headache, and fatigue may point toward viral illnesses or other infections rather than epiglottitis. Rapid breathing, chills, rash, and dizziness