Tracheitis: the 'other' cause of upper airway obstruction.
A 22-year-old woman presented to an ear, nose, and throat clinic with an upper respiratory infection and sudden stridorous respirations. Aerosolized isoethrane therapy was beneficial and fiber-optic nasolaryngoscopy revealed a normal supraglottis and purulent intratracheal secretions. Secretions were cultured and grew Staphylococcus aureus and alpha hemolytic Streptococcus. IV cefazolin was initiated and the patient recovered without sequelae. This case illustrates a rare cause of upper airway obstruction, tracheitis. Tracheitis has been found in the pediatric literature. This is the first adult case reported in the literature.
Campbell
T P
TP
University of Pittsburgh Affiliated Residency in Emergency Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Paris
P M
PM
Stewart
R D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014136:Tracheitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D002437:Cefazolin