Why tracheitis is dangerous and how to treat it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you notice signs of illness, seek help immediately.

What is tracheitis

Tracheitis is an inflammation of the lining of the trachea. That is, the tube through which air enters the bronchi and lungs from the nasopharynx.

Most often, the trachea becomes inflamed in young children, mainly between the ages of 3 and 8 Bacterial Tracheitis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. However, the disease can also occur in adults. In some cases, it is fatal.

For what symptoms do you need to urgently seek help?

Tracheitis is a condition requiring emergency Tracheitis medical attention. The fact is that inflammation of the trachea is accompanied by edema. It can be so large that it blocks the air intake.

Therefore, help should be sought as soon as you find the symptoms of tracheitis Tracheitis. Here they are:

• After a just transferred infection of the upper respiratory tract (for example, ARVI), a deep barking cough appeared or intensified.
• The temperature suddenly and high rose - up to 39 ° C and more.
• Difficulty breathing, it became quick and shallow.
• Whistling wheezing is heard when inhaling and exhaling. Doctors call this characteristic sound stridor. It appears when the airways are partially blocked.
• The skin has acquired an unnaturally pale, bluish tint.

If you observe these signs, contact your pediatrician or therapist immediately. If you can't find a doctor urgently, call an ambulance.

Symptoms may be less severe. Update on childhood and adult infectious tracheitis, especially in adults. But in any case, if there are problems with breathing, a stridor is heard, a barking cough arises, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Where does tracheitis come from?

Most often, tracheitis is a bacterial complication of Bacterial tracheitis in children: Approach to diagnosis and treatment after acute viral upper respiratory tract infection. Due to influenza, parainfluenza, other acute respiratory viral infections, local immunity decreases and bacteria (usually Staphylococcus aureus) begin to actively multiply on the tracheal mucosa. This is what causes inflammation.

However, in rare cases, the causes of tracheitis may be different. A to Z: Tracheitis:

• direct viral infection;
• allergy;
• inhalation of Tracheitis toxic substances (eg chlorine gas or thick pungent smoke).

How to treat tracheitis

In most cases, tracheal inflammation is treated only in a hospital setting. If the edema is large and threatens to completely block the air supply, a so-called endotracheal Tracheitis tube may be inserted into the airways to facilitate breathing. This procedure is called intubation.

The most common bacterial tracheitis in children requires intubation in 72–75% of patients Bacterial Tracheitis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

However, if the doctor decides that the disease is not life-threatening, tracheitis can be treated on an outpatient basis. That is, at home, under the supervision of a pediatrician, therapist or ENT.

As a rule, therapy includes taking antibiotics - first intravenously, then in the form of pills. The medication will need to be taken for at least 1-2 weeks. In addition, the doctor may prescribe other drugs, such as antiallergic, expectorant, pain relievers.

To control how successful the therapy is, additional examinations will be needed: a blood test, examination of the larynx with a laryngoscope, X-ray. This is important, since the inflammatory process can descend into the bronchi and lungs. In children, it sometimes affects the vocal cords and causes an even more serious complication - false croup.

However, if treatment is started on time, people almost always recover completely.