Tracheitis

Tracheitis is an inflammation of the trachea (windpipe), most commonly due to infection. It can become a serious condition—especially in children—if it causes airway narrowing or obstruction.

🔍 Types of Tracheitis

1. Acute Infectious Tracheitis
   • Bacterial (most common): Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae
   • Often follows a viral upper respiratory infection
2. Viral Tracheitis
   • Caused by respiratory viruses (e.g., influenza, RSV, adenovirus)
   • Often part of tracheobronchitis or croup
3. Non-infectious Tracheitis
   • From irritants (smoke, chemical fumes), intubation trauma, autoimmune diseases (e.g. relapsing polychondritis)

⚠️ Symptoms

• Harsh, barking cough
• Stridor (high-pitched noise when inhaling)
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Thick mucus or pus in airway (especially in bacterial tracheitis)

In children, symptoms may resemble croup but are typically more severe and unresponsive to standard croup treatments.

🧪 Diagnosis

• Clinical exam (listen for stridor, assess breathing effort)
• Neck/chest X-ray or CT scan
• Bronchoscopy (definitive diagnosis): visualizes inflamed airway and secretions
• Airway cultures (if intubated)

💊 Treatment

🧒 In Children (often requires hospitalization)

• Airway management is critical—may require intubation
• IV antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone + clindamycin or vancomycin)
• Oxygen therapy
• Suctioning of secretions

🧑 In Adults (milder cases)

• Often viral—supportive care:
  • Rest, fluids
  • Antipyretics (fever reducers)
  • Humidified air
• If bacterial: oral antibiotics

🛡️ Prognosis

• With prompt treatment, full recovery is expected
• Delayed or untreated bacterial tracheitis can lead to:
  • Airway obstruction
  • Respiratory failure
  • Sepsis

🧠 Key Differences: Tracheitis vs. Croup