Tracheitis

Alternative names:

acute bacterial tracheitis; bacterial tracheitis

Definition:

A bacterial infection of the trachea capable of producing airway obstruction.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bacterial tracheitis is most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus and frequently follows a recent viral upper respiratory infection. Young children are primarily affected, possibly because of the decreased diameter of the trachea relative to the swelling.

Children may still have a cough from their previous infection but this rapidly worsens. The child quickly develops a high pitched, crowing sound with breathing that is called stridor (usually on inhalation, called inspiratory stridor) and increasing breathing difficulty. Fever is generally high and the child looks very ill (toxic). This condition may progress very rapidly.

These children may sound as if they have croup, but the usual croup treatments do not improve the breathing difficulty. Tracheitis requires hospitalization and, almost always, a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) in order to maintain an open airway.

The infection is treated with an antistaphylococcal medications such as penicillin or a cephalosporin that covers staphylococcus. If a different organism is at fault, the appropriate antibiotic is used.