Uvulitis vs. Epiglottitis: How to tell the difference?

Hey,
I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with epiglottitis firsthand,
(and I don't mean the kind that ends in a fatal choking incident—more like those early warning stages)—and specifically, how much does that type of swelling actually differ from uvulitis? Also, is there any chance this thing develops gradually over a few days or weeks, rather than just hitting you out of nowhere overnight?
Thanks 🙂