Abstract
Objective: Highlight the different presentations of bacterial tracheitis, which is a life threatening cause of airway obstruction in children.
Method: Review of 4 patients’ medical records who presented with differing signs and symptoms.
Results: Four types of clinical manifestations of bacterial tracheitis are presented with endoscopic appearances of the airway. Three patients were afebrile and nontoxic. Only 1 had a significantly elevated WBC. All 4 had different degrees of stridor. One had respiratory arrest. All were successfully treated with antibiotics and bronchoscopic debridement of the membranes. Cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus in 2, grew Moraxella catarrhalis in one, and were sterile in one. None required intubation.
Conclusion: Bacterial tracheitis needs a high index of suspicion due to its varied presentations. Certain forms have less severe clinical manifestations. These forms too require aggressive management, as they can result in airway obstruction from membranes and edema.
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