Bacterial tracheitis

Bacterial tracheitis is a serious infection of the subglottic trachea, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Haemophilus influenzae. People with bacterial tracheitis can present with fever, painful cough with thick secretions, stridor, and tenderness of the trachea. Bacterial tracheitis results in severe exudative inflammation of the airway, which can lead to airway obstruction. Other complications include pneumonia, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death.