<prompt> In a child with suspected diagnosis of epiglottitis, indicate your first line of treatment:Order an X-ray of soft tissue lateral view neck to establish the diagnosisTake throat swab and blood culture and start intravenous fluidsPerform a laryngoscopySecure an airway by intubation  <response>: In epiglottitis, the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds are swollen obstructing the airway. Any attempt to disturb the child such as taking throat swab, blood culture, starting IV lines may precipitate respiratory obstruction.Treatment is directed to airway establishment. Child is taken to operation room, anaesthetised and intubated. Blood culture and epiglottic swabs are then taken and antibiotics second or third generation cephalosporins started. In the absence of a skilled anaesthetist, a tracheotomy may be performed. 