Epiglottitis is a medical emergency that may result in death if not treated quickly. The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that sits at the base of the tongue that keeps food from going into the trachea (windpipe) during swallowing.When it becomes infected and inflamed, it can swell and obstruct or close off the windpipe, which may be fatal unless promptly treated. Epiglottitis occurs with different peaks in both children and adults. 2  In children, generally epiglottitis typically peaks in children aged 2-4 years. 3  In adults, the average age of onset is 45 years.
Although aircraft cabins are pressurized, cabin air pressure at cruising altitude is lower than air pressure at sea level. At typical cruising altitudes in the range 11 000â12 200 m (36 000â40 000 feet), air pressure in the cabin is equivalent to the outside air pressure at 1800â2400 m (6000â8000 feet) above sea level.
Pressure altitude is the height above a standard datum plane (SDP), which is a theoretical level where the weight of the atmosphere is 29.92 Hg (1,013.2 mb) as measured by a barometer. An altimeter is essentially a sensitive barometer calibrated to indicate altitude in the standard atmosphere.If the altimeter is set for 29.92 Hg SDP, the altitude indicated is the pressure altitude. As atmospheric pressure changes, the SDP may be below, at, or above sea level.ore widely, this is also the PRESSURE ALTITUDE, which is alternatively defined as the height of any level in the international standard atmosphere (ISA-see above), above the level corresponding to a pressure of 1013.2 hPa.