Bacterial tracheitis: recognition and treatment.

Bacterial tracheitis is a rare, life-threatening form of upper airway obstruction usually seen in children. It is often confused with other forms of upper airway obstruction and must be distinguished from viral croup and epiglottitis. The mainstay of treatment is establishing and maintaining an artificial airway, thus clearing the trachea of the mucopurulent exudate which has accumulated. It is wise for the physician to maintain a high index of suspicion for bacterial tracheitis especially in those children with fever and an upper airway obstruction who fail to exhibit the typical clinical features of croup or epiglottits.