title: Pneumococcal bacterial tracheitis.
abstract: Bacterial tracheitis is an uncommon cause of acute respiratory distress in children. The authors present a case of bacterial tracheitis in a 6-year-old girl caused by an unusual pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae. Her clinical presentation and radiographic findings are typical for an older child. Management of this case involved endotracheal intubation, although a review of the literature suggests that airway management can vary with age and size of the tracheal lumen. The microbiology of bacterial tracheitis shows a predominance of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus reported previously, with only three prior reported cases of Pneumococcus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Orenstein
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D014136:Tracheitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy