Tracheitis

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Bacterial tracheitis; Acute bacterial tracheitis

• Deep cough (similar to that caused by croup)
• Difficulty breathing
• High fever
• High-pitched breathing sound (stridor)

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and listen to the child's lungs. The muscles between the ribs may pull in as the child tries to breathe. This is called intercostal retractions.

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:

• Blood oxygen level
• Nasopharyngeal culture to look for bacteria
• Tracheal culture to look for bacteria
• X-ray of the trachea

Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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