Hello and Welcome to "Ask A Doctor" service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Yes, her
epiglottis has always been just below her throat and above her vocal cords in the same position as the epiglottis in your other children.
In my experience as a
pediatrician when peering into the open mouth of a child, I have often seen their epiglottis. For the most part these have been young, healthy children and I was looking into their mouth and throat as part the routine physical exam. The children had opened their mouths very wide. In each of these patients the epiglottis was normal. Has she ever refused to swallow before? Does she have fast, labored breathing? Is she able to swallow her saliva?
My suspicion as to why your infant won't swallow is that it is probably due to silent reflux.
A patient who has silent reflux has a backup of stomach acid into their throat,
esophagus, and
larynx. Also, area below the vocal cords may be narrowed. Somewhere in this part of her upper respiratory or gastrointestinal tract there may be irritation or blockage.
If she is not eating, is she drinking? It is vital that she not become dehydrated.
I urge you to take her back to the ENT doctor as soon as possible.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Arnold Zedd, MD, FAAP