A Pediatric Radiology Textbook and Pediatric Radiology Digital Library
Bacterial Tracheitis
Etiology: — Primarily bacterial or bacterial superinfection post viral — Multimicrobial but often Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus — Purulent infection of trachea where plaques form along tracheal walls and plaques can occlude airway
Imaging: — Glottic and subglottic process — AP radiograph: Subglottic narrowing — Lateral radiograph: Asymmetric narrowing of trachea with irregular tracheal border with loss of definition of trachea — Membranes and plaques within subglottic trachea — Candle dripping sign — 50% have bacterial pneumonia on CXR
DDX:
Complications:
Treatment: Antibiotics
Clinical: Older and more ill than those with croup, symptoms are high grade fever and elevated white blood cell count and shortness of breath and stridor and sore throat
Radiology Cases of Bacterial Tracheitis
Lateral radiograph of the airway shows loss of definition of the trachea and membranes / plaques within it.Lateral radiograph of the airway shows subglottic asymmetric narrowing of trachea with an irregular tracheal border and loss of the normal definition of the tracheal walls with membranes and plaques noted within the subglottic trachea.
