Tracheitis

Tracheitis
ICD-10	J04.0, J42
ICD-9	464.1, 491.8
MedlinePlus	000988
MeSH	D014136

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

Tracheitis (also known as Bacterial tracheitis or Acute bacterial tracheitis) is a bacterial infection of the trachea and is capable of producing airway obstruction.

One of the most common causes is Staphylococcus aureus and often follows an upper respiratory infection. It is the most serious in young children, possibly because of the relatively small size of the trachea. The most frequent sign is the rapid development of stridor. It is occasionally confused with croup.

Bacterial tracheitis is most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus and frequently follows a recent viral upper respiratory infection. It affects mostly young children, possibly because their small trachea is easily blocked by swelling.

Symptoms

• Increasing deep or barking croup cough following a previous upper respiratory infection
• Crowing sound when the child inhales (inspiratory stridor)
• 'scratchy' feeling in the throat
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Intercostal retractions (the muscles between the ribs pull in as the child attempts to breathe)