It is a condition that can depend on several factors, including viruses, bacteria and allergens. Let’s find out why in children is more frequent and how to recognize it and treat it
Tracheite is a very annoying inflammation that often manifests itself in association with the infection of the high respiratory tract and influence. Depending on the cause, infectious or allergic, the tracheitis in children It requires specific therapy and heals maximum in two weeks, except in more serious or chronic cases. Let’s see how to recognize it and what to do.
Symptoms of tracheitis in children
When we hear about tracheitis in childrenwe mean an inflammation of the trachea (the flexible duct that combines the larynx with the bronchi so that the inspired air can reach the lungs). This condition can be caused by several factors, including viruses, bacteria and allergens, and in children, as well as in the most fragile subjects of all ages, is more frequent. In particular, very young children have a greater risk of presenting breathing difficulties, since their airways are narrower and more easily attacked.
But what are the Symptoms of tracheitis in children?
- fever;
- dry cough or with mucus production;
- Sore throat, Raucendine and lowering of voice, Rinorrhea, or nose that colas (all symptoms assimilable also in laryngitis, pharyngitis and rhinitis and that present themselves because inflammation can involve different areas of the respiratory system);
- noisy breath, sometimes breathing difficulties and, if there is bronchial interest, dyspnea (short breath);
- tiredness and fatigue.
There tracheitisdepending on the characteristics With which it presents, it can be classified in acute and chronic form and in primary or secondary type. Let’s see the differences below.
- Acute tracheitis. Sudden inflammation, usually unleashed by a bacterial or viral infection. Depending on the symptoms and effectiveness of the treatment, it can heal within two to three weeks. Generally it manifests itself at the beginning with mild fever, dry cough that tends to worsen at night, raucendine and slight breathing difficulties.
- Chronic tracheitis. Further rare form in children than adults, it presents itself when inflammation persists due to pre -existing pathologies (such as congenital malformations, unrest of the immune system), chronic irritations and allergies (passive smoke exhibitions, polluting, irritating substances), gastroesophageal reflux (The content of the stomach dates back to the trachea, irritating the mucosa). It manifests itself with symptoms similar to the acute form but the causes are different.
- Primary tracheitis. When inflammation affects the trachea directly.
- Secondary tracheitis. When inflammation concerns the high respiratory tract and subsequently involves the trachea.
But as Recognize tracheitis in children? In the presence of fever, rhinorrhea and sore throat, or of fever, cough and raucendine, a diagnosis of tracheitis is likely. Almost always these are acute but not serious forms, especially of viral origin, therefore in these cases it is not necessary to resort to the antibiotic. The clinical diagnosis of the pediatrician is essential to evaluate the right therapy, as well as the feedback of other disorders, less frequent but possible, such as otitis, sinusitis, chest pains; To this end, the use of multiple diagnostic tests will be useful, such as a chest RX and an otorinolaryngohotric consultation.
What are the causes and how it is transmitted
The causes of tracheitis in children can be varied and include viral or bacterial infections. Let’s see them specifically.
Viral infections
Mainly due to:
- SINACIAL respiratory virus (RSV), Known to cause bronchiolitis in the little ones, it involves the lower respiratory tract and involves breathing difficulties. (1)
- Cold virusfor example the viruses belonging to Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Coronavirus.
- Flu viruses (type A and b).
- Fluvial paraing virus, Especially type 1, often associated with cases of laryngotracheobronchitis, starting from 6 months, and rather frequent in the first 3 years of age.
Bacterial infections
Mainly due to:
- Staphylococcus aureus, which can directly involve the trachea or cause laryngitis, pharyngitis and then subsequently tracheitis.
- Streptococcus pneumoniaeresponsible for pneumonia and many respiratory infections, can cause bacterial tracheitis in children, often after a sinusitis.
- Haemophilus influenzaeoften causes media otitis, bronchitis, sinusite, secondaryly can cause tracheites. Since the vaccine for the type B has been introduced, it is rarer can cause infections that also involve the lower respiratory tract.
- Klebsiella Pneumoniaecause of secondary tracheites, generally after infection of the high respiratory tract.
- Moraxella catarrhalisdue to an infection that involves the upper and lower respiratory tract, generates laryngitis, otitis media and subsequently tracheitis.
Tracheites can also be caused by exposure to environmental pollutants, for example the inhalation of particles of dust or chemicals present in the domestic environment or in the environments that is frequently frequented. Another manager can be passive smoke. The two just mentioned are rarer cases than virus and bacteria infections, but certainly in subjects predisposed to the development of allergies and inflammations to live in contact with certain substances increases the risk of presenting forms of chronic tracheitis, as well as problems in the respiratory tract. In addition, even in the absence of pollutants and irritants, children, as well as adults, can develop forms of both acute and chronic tracheitis in case of congenital malformations to the respiratory tract, gastroesophageal reflux and immunosuppression.
The main street transmission in the tracheitis of children It is the inhalation one. A closed environment, in the presence of other children, also asymptomatic, bearers of the infection (bacterial or viral that it is), promotes contagion through the sneezing and contamination of objects. The same for allergic forms, where the inhalation of irritating substances triggers, in predisposed subjects, a very strong immune response and inflammation.
How do you treat children’s tracheitis?
THE remedies for the tracheitis in children They can be different, depending on the causes.
As for the management of symptoms, it is important to keep the child hydrated, let it rest, if he has a sore throat try to make him take hot drinks (after the first year of life you can add honey).
As said, there treatment from the tracheitis in children It will be different according to the cause. For bacterial tracheites (rarer) an antibiotic will be prescribed by the pediatrician. For viral tracheites, however, an analgesic or anti -inflammatory is indicated to help the child contain the malaise and, as already written, honey to fluidify the cough.
In the presence of an ascertained allergic tracheitis, antihistamine and cortisone are prescribed, and it is important to follow some rules, such as limiting exposure to passive smoke, pollutants and aggressive chemicals (spray, paints, fertilizers).
Generally, after adequate therapy, the tracheitis of bacterial origin is resolved within 10-15 days at most, while the viral form is faster resolution.
