What are the three classic symptoms of acute epiglottitis?

The three classic symptoms of acute epiglottitis are drooling, respiratory distress, and dysphagia.

Drooling occurs because patients often find it painful to swallow due to the inflammation of the epiglottis, which can make it difficult to manage saliva. This leads to excessive saliva accumulation and drooling.

Respiratory distress is a key symptom as epiglottitis results in swelling that can obstruct the airway, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. The increased work of breathing and potential stridor (a high-pitched wheezing sound) can indicate severe airway compromise.

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is directly related to the inflammation and swelling in the throat area, which complicates the swallowing process and causes pain.

These symptoms are critical in identifying acute epiglottitis, especially in children, as this condition can progress rapidly and lead to life-threatening airway obstruction. The other options present symptoms associated with different medical conditions that do not align with the hallmark presentation of acute epiglottitis.