Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Uvulitis in Children

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pediatric ENT Infections

  • 1097 Accesses

Abstract

The term uvula comes from “uva,” the Latin word for grape. The palatine uvula or uvula is located at the back edge of the soft palate as a projecting soft tissue in the midline of the oropharynx. It is composed of muscle fibers surrounded by connective tissue with blood vessels, lymph nodes, and the abundance of palatine glands. It is covered by an epithelial layer in continuum with the oral mucosa. Although it is often overlooked during the physical exam, the uvula is a highly sophisticated accessory tissue: mechanically, it is involved in speech and swallowing as a part of the soft palate; it also produces large quantities of saliva as a part of the digestive process in the oral cavity [1]. Isolated uvulitis described as enlarged uvula due to inflammation that can be secondary to bacterial infection, allergy, chemical exposures, and trauma is quite uncommon [2, 3]. It often manifests with an acute onset that can be life-threatening due to the risk of airway obstruction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Finkelstein Y, Meshorer A, Talmi YP, Zohar Y, Brenner J, Gal R. The riddle of the uvula. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992;107:444–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kotloff KL, Wald ER. Uvulitis in children. Pediatr Infect Dis. 1983;2:392–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wald ER. Uvulitis. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, editors. Feigin and Cherry's textbook of pediatric infectious diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2019. p. 116–7.

    Google Scholar 

  4. McNamara R. Clinical characteristics of acute uvulitis. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12:51–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. De Pieri C, Valentini E, Pusiol A, Passone E, Gamalero L, Cogo PE. Infective uvulitis in a child. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2020;36(8):384–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.2258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Shomali W, Holman K. Concurrent uvulitis and epiglottitis. Cleve Clin J Med. 2016;88:712–4.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Olofsson K, Hellström S, Hammarström ML. Human uvula: characterization of resident leukocytes and local cytokine production. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2000;109:488–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Li KI, Kiernan S, Wald ER, Reilly JS. Isolated uvulitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b. Pediatrics. 1984;74:1054–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Aquino V. Terndrup TE uvulitis in three children: etiology and respiratory distress. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1992;8:206–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jerrard DA, Olshaker J. Simultaneous uvulitis and epiglottitis without fever or leukocytosis. Am J Emerg Med. 1996;14:551–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lathadevi HT, Karadi RN, Thobbi RV, Guggarigoudar SP, Kulkarni NH. Isolated uvulitis: an uncommon but not a rare clinical entity. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;57:139–40.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. McNamara R, Koobatian T. Simultaneous uvulitis and epiglottitis in adults. Am J Emerg Med. 1997;15:161–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Westerman EL, Hutton JP. Acute uvulitis associated with epiglottitis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986;112:448–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wynder SG, Lampe RM, Shoemaker ME. Uvulitis and Hemophilus influenzae bacteremia. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1986;2:23–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Brook I. Uvulitis caused by anaerobic bacteria. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1997;13:221.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Costa A, Nery J, Olivera M, Cuzzi T, Silva M. Oral lesions in leprosy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2003;69:381–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Krober MS, Weir MR. Acute uvulitis apparently caused by Candida albicans. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1991;10:73.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Arigliani M, Dolcemascolo V, Passone E, Vergine M, Cogo P. Uvular trauma after laryngeal mask airway use. J Pediatr. 2016;176:217.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Casati A, Caldi M, Colnaghi E, Torri G. A rare post-anesthesia complication causing upper airway obstruction. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1997;41:1221–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gilmore T, Mirin M. Traumatic uvulitis from a suction catheter. J Emerg Med. 2012;43:479–80.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Harris MA, Kumar M. A rare complication of endotracheal intubation. Lancet. 1997;350:1820–1.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Partridge RA, McNamara RM. Traumatic uvulitis. Ann Emerg Med. 1992;21:1407.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Peghini P, Saicedo J, Al-Kawas F. Traumatic uvulitis. A rare complication of upper GI endoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 2001;53:818–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ziahosseini K, Ali S, Simo R, Malhotra. Uvulitis following general anesthesia. BMJ Case Rep. 2014;2014:2014205038. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2014-205038.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Tabboush ZS. Airway obstruction from uvular edema after traumatic adenoidectomy. Anesth Analg. 2000;91:494.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Boyce SH, Quigley MA. Uvulitis and partial upper airway obstruction following cannabis inhalation. Emerg Med. 2002;14:106–8.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Guarisco JL, Cheney ML, LeJeune FE Jr, Reed HT. Isolated uvulitis secondary to marijuana use. Laryngoscope. 1998;98:1309–12.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Macfarlane R, Hart J, Henry JA. A man with massive uvula. Lancet. 2002;359:492.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mallat A, Robertson J, Brock-Utne JG. Preoperative marijuana inhalation-an airway concern. Can J Anaesth. 1996;43:691–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Murphy A, Haughey R. Mephedrone-induced uvulitis. Anesthesia. 2014;69:189–90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kuo DC, Barish RA. Isolated uvular angioedema associated with ACE inhibitor use. J Emerg Med. 1995;13:327–30.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Wong AYS, Wong TW, Lau CC. A case of angioedema involving the tongue and uvula. J Emerg Med. 2000;7:162–5.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Bork K, Gül D, Hardt J, Drwald G. Hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor: clinical symptoms and course. Am J Med. 2007;120:987–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Satar S, Gökel Y, Toprak N, Sebe A. Life-threatening uvular angioedema caused by Ecobalium elaerium. Eur J Emerg Med. 2001;8:337–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kazi A, Gauthier M, Lebel MH, Farrel CA, Lacroix J. Uvulitis and supraglottitis: early manifestations of Kawasaki disease. J Pediatr. 1992;120:564–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Diaz JH. Is uvular edema a complication of endotracheal intubation? Anesth Analg. 1993;76:1139–41.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cheng LHH, Halfpenny D. Treatment of an enlarged uvula. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2008;46:490–1.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kinsey CM, Howell M. A 27-year-old woman with a swollen uvula, chest pain, and elevated creatinine phosphokinase levels. Chest. 2008;133:809–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Claes P, Devue K, Beckers R, Delooz HH, Corne LC. Sudden drooling and supine gagging: an important emergency? Eur J Emerg Med. 2005;5:255–6.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Deutsch ES, Zazal GH. Quincke’s edema, revisited. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1991;117:100–2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Evans TC, Roberge RJ. Quincke’s disease of the uvula. Am J Emerg Med. 1987;5:211–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Roberts JR. Acute angioedema of the uvula. Emerg Med News. 2001;23:7–12.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Woods CR. Clinical features and treatment of uvulitis in children and adolescents. In Kaplan SL, Torchia MM (ed). Uptodate,com; last updated 2009, https://somepomed.org/articulos/contents/mobipreview.htm?16/23/16752?source=see_link&anchor=H10. Accessed 14 Dec 2020.

  44. Wagenaar-Bos IG, Drouet C. Aygoren-Pursun E, et al functional C1-inhibitor diagnostics in hereditary angioedema: assay evaluation and recommendations. J Immunol Methods. 2008;338:14–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Neustein SM. Acute uvular edema after regional anesthesia. J Clin Anesth. 2007;19:365–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Roberge RJ, Sullivan T. Topical epinephrine therapy of acute uvulitis. Am J Emerg Med. 1997;l5:331–2.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Hawkins DB, Crockett DM, Shum TK. Corticosteroids in airway management. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1983;91:593–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Schams SC, Goldman RD. Steroids as adjuvant treatment of sore throat in acute bacterial pharyngitis. Can Fam Physician. 2012;58:52–4.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Hawke M, Kwok P. Acute inflammatory edema of the uvula (uvulitis) as a cause of respiratory distress: a case report. J Otolaryngol. 1987;16:188–90.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Bernstein JA, Cremonesi P, Hoffmann TK, Hollingsworth J. Angioedema in the emergency department: a practical guide to differential diagnosis and management. Int J Emerg Med. 2017;10(1):15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-017-0141-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey

    İsmail Zafer Ecevit

  2. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Olcay Y. Jones

Authors
  1. İsmail Zafer Ecevit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olcay Y. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey

    Cemal Cingi

  2. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Emin Sami Arısoy

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Turkey

    Nuray Bayar Muluk

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ecevit, İ.Z., Jones, O.Y. (2022). Uvulitis in Children. In: Cingi, C., Arısoy, E.S., Bayar Muluk, N. (eds) Pediatric ENT Infections. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80691-0_48

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80691-0_48

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80690-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80691-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation