Tracheitis

A tracheitis (from trachea and -itis ) is an inflammation of the trachea, which can be infectious, allergic or irritant chemically related.

Occurrence

The tracheitis rarely isolated, ie without further symptoms before. In most cases the disease occurs in combination with cold (rhinitis ), laryngitis ( laryngitis ), or inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis ). The disease often occurs in the winter months.

Also, various gases, vapors or dusts with mucous membrane irritant substances can cause tracheitis. Potential irritants, for example, cigarette smoke, sulfur dioxide, nitrous gases, ozone or ammonia.

Molding

Acute tracheitis

The acute tracheitis is often caused by a viral infection. The symptoms are hoarseness, cough, burning sensation beneath the breastbone ( retrosternal burning) and flu symptoms. The acute tracheitis is a common side effect of a virus-induced infection of the nose, pharynx, larynx or bronchial mucosa.

Chronic tracheitis

For more than three months -existing cough is called a chronic tracheitis. The causes are chronic inhalation injury ( tobacco ), narrowing (stenosis ) of the trachea, mechanical obstacles or tracheomalacia, a disease which is characterized by a relaxation of the trachea.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis can be made by the physician with a wooden tongue depressors, which depresses the tongue, allowing an insight into the pharynx and larynx space. Optionally, the use of a laryngoscope ( laryngoscope ) is necessary.

Therapy

When symptoms persist for longer than a few days, there is a risk that additional bacterial infections ( " superinfection " ) occur that need to be treated with antibiotics. Basically, a more than two weeks from the existing hoarseness specialist should be clarified, as it may also be possible malignant diseases.

In the normal course of virus -induced no specific drug treatment is necessary. The disease usually heals within a week.