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Tracheitis - signs and treatment.

Tracheitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the tracheal mucosa. Tracheitis rarely develops as an independent disease (for example, with chemical damage to the tracheal mucosa as a result of inhalation of toxic substances). As a rule, tracheitis is the result (complication) of respiratory diseases of infectious etiology and proceeds against the background of such diseases as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, rhinitis.

The most common causative agents of inflammation in tracheitis are streptococci and staphylococci. Factors predisposing to the onset of tracheitis are: inhalation of dusty suspension, cold air, vapors of chemically active reagents, toxic gases, smoking, taking alcohol-containing drinks with a high concentration of alcohol.

The inflammatory process in tracheitis can occur with swelling of the mucous membrane, its hyperemia, punctate hemorrhages, infiltration, accumulation of mucus. The acute course of tracheitis, if improperly treated, can lead to a chronic course, as a result of which changes in the tracheal mucosa can develop in two directions: hypertrophy or mucosal atrophy. With hypertrophy of the tracheal mucosa, the vessels of the mucous layer expand, the mucous membrane swells, the accumulation of purulent sputum increases. In chronic atrophic tracheitis, thinning of the mucous membrane occurs, it changes color from pale pink to grayish, friability disappears, the mucous membrane becomes smooth, it can dry out with the formation of crusts.

Signs of tracheitis are manifested by coughing attacks that develop at the time of inhalation of air, talking, laughing, swallowing. The throat is dry and sore. Often there is pain behind the sternum, provoking shallow breathing, the voice can sit down. Sputum accumulates in the tracheal bifurcation zone, which provokes another convulsive coughing fit. The temperature can be both normal and high. The inflammatory process in tracheitis can capture the upper parts of the bronchi, in this case, the tracheitis is transformed into tracheobronchitis, with a painful cough and fever. There is a danger of pneumonia complicating tracheitis and tracheobronchitis.

Treatment of tracheitis consists in eliminating factors that support the pathological process: volatile irritants, cold air. A painful cough is removed with drugs containing cough reflex blockers; in the presence of a viral infection, the use of immunostimulants is recommended. Antibiotics are used if there is a bacterial infection in the sputum. Mustard plasters and inhalations are used as physiotherapy. To facilitate the discharge of sputum, expectorants are used.