Acute, chronic and viral tracheitis: whether it is contagious, how long it lasts

Tracheitis is called inflammation in the mucous membrane of the trachea, which can occur in both acute and chronic forms. The cause of tracheitis is often caused by various viruses, bacteria, less often dry, polluted or cold air.

Symptoms of the disease are specific - dry, less often wet cough, painful and most intense at night. Tracheitis in the acute form may be accompanied by other diseases - laryngitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis and even inflammation of the bronchi.

[1], [2]

Are you traheitis infected?

The question of whether tracheitis is contagious concerns the viral nature of the disease. If the inflammation of the trachea is caused by viruses, respectively, the contagiousness of the disease is very high. Like other viral infections, viral tracheitis is transmitted by airborne droplets, less commonly by households, if the people around the patient use the same objects - dishes, towels, and so on. Adenoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses first infect the mucous membrane of the larynx, viral laryngitis develops, if the disease is not treated, viruses infect the tracheal membrane, a cough characteristic of tracheitis appears. A patient with tracheitis can infect many people if he continues to maintain close contact with close relatives and colleagues. Also a closed unventilated room, a gross violation of the rules of personal hygiene (general use of objects intended for individual use) can also become a factor causing infection. Particularly high susceptibility to infection in children of primary and school age. Is tracheitis contagious? Of course, it is contagious, given the fact that there are many viruses and it happens that one type of virus is extortion, a person can get completely different. Weakened immunity, “learned” to respond to a specific virus infection, is not able to resist the invasion of a new virus. This explains the possible recurrence of tracheitis.

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How long does tracheitis last?

The question “how long a tracheitis lasts” can only be answered by the disease itself, but, as a rule, it strongly “resists” treatment. The period of illness and the period of recovery always depend on the form of the inflammatory process, which can be both acute and chronic, that is, protracted. In addition, the state of the patient’s immunity affects how long the tracheitis lasts, the more actively the body fights tracheitis, the faster the recovery will come.

The prognosis of the acute form of tracheitis is usually more favorable. Acute tracheitis occurs with proper and timely treatment in 10-14 days, unless, of course, the disease is not complicated by additional problems with the bronchi.

How long the tracheitis lasts in a chronic form is harder to predict, since the protracted course of the disease makes it impossible to accurately predict the period of recovery. However, with complex intensive treatment, patients with chronic tracheitis recover no later than one month after the onset of the disease.

[4], [5]

Acute banal tracheitis

Tracheitis in the acute form is rarely an independent disease, as a rule, it is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the bronchial branches. This pathological combination is called tracheobronchitis and is caused mainly by the influenza virus, which can be joined later by a bacterial infection (pneumococcal, less commonly, staphylococcal).

Primary acute banal tracheitis is most often caused by exposure to colds (general and local cooling, high humidity in the cold season), creating favorable conditions for the activation of conditionally pathogenic local microbiota, as well as increased content of dust, corrosive gases, toxic vapors and all sorts of allergens. Contributing factors may be chronic heart and lung diseases leading to congestion and hyperemia of the upper respiratory tract mucosa, weakening of the nutritional status, low immunity after infectious diseases or HIV infection. In children, exudative diathesis, rickets, dystrophy, as well as poor living conditions can act as contributing factors that cause tracheitis. Most often, acute tracheitis occurs in children and the elderly in the spring and autumn periods.

Acute banal tracheitis is characterized by hyperemia of the mucous membrane, which is covered by mucus, sometimes forming separate lumps. In severe forms of acute banal tracheitis, point or more or less common hemorrhages may be observed in the mucous membrane, blood veins may be contained in the mucus.

Symptoms

Usually acute banal tracheitis begins with acute catarrhal rhinitis and nasopharyngitis and quickly spreads downwards, covering all the upper respiratory tract and trachea. In other cases, simultaneously with the trachea, the large bronchi are also involved in the disease, and the symptoms of the tracheitis acquire the character of an acute tracheobronchitis. The most characteristic symptoms of tracheitis are coughing, especially disturbing the patient at night and in the morning, before lifting, due to nocturnal accumulation of sputum, on the one hand, and physiological nightly activation of the vagal system, leading to increased sensation of the nerve endings of the vagus nerve, which provides the cough reflex. However, a cough with tracheitis is less painful and constant than with bronchitis, it appears with a deep breath, laughter, crying, with a change in ambient temperature. With a pronounced tracheitis, for example during the flu, patients sometimes complain of a dull, sore pain in the throat and behind the sternum, especially after a coughing fit. Due to the pain during deep breath, patients try to limit the depth of the respiratory movements. In such cases, in children, breathing becomes shallow and, to compensate for the oxygen deficiency, is more frequent. With the accumulation of sputum in the area of the bifurcation of the trachea, an attack of strong, convulsive cough may occur as a result of irritation of the nerve endings of the vagus nerve that are abundantly branched in the region of the keel of the trachea. A frequent cough and concomitant laryngitis voice may be hoarse. The general condition in acute tracheitis suffers little, sometimes there is a subfebrile condition, headache, feeling of weakness, pain in the whole body. In children, the clinical picture is acute with an increase in body temperature to 39 ° C. Dyspnea usually does not occur, with the exception of acute severe generalized viral lesions of the upper respiratory tract, in which there is marked general intoxication, impaired cardiac activity, inhibition of the respiratory center.

The phlegm is scanty, it is difficult to separate at the onset of the disease, which is explained by the stage of “dry” catarrhal tracheitis, and has a viscous slimy character. Gradually, it acquires a mucopurulent character, becomes more abundant and separates more easily. The cough ceases to cause unpleasant scrubbing pains, the general condition improves.

With the usual clinical course and timely started treatment, tracheitis is completed within 1-2 weeks. Under unfavorable conditions, failure to comply with the regimen prescribed by the doctor, untimely treatment of tracheitis and other negative factors, recovery is delayed and the process can turn into a chronic stage.

During influenza epidemics, when the virulence of the virus reaches its maximum, over-acute hemorrhagic tracheitis can occur with a rapid onset and a severe clinical course. Typically, such tracheitis is only part of the clinical picture of the general lesion of the respiratory tract, and often - confluent influenza hemorrhagic pneumonia, resulting in the death of the patient. In such forms of the disease of the respiratory tract, complications such as edema of the subbladder space with the threat of asphyxiation often occur, in which the only rescue of the patient is an immediate tracheotomy and massive detoxification treatment. A particularly dangerous complication is the development of bronchopneumonia in the elderly and capillary bronchitis in children.

Diagnostics

Tracheitis is easily recognized, especially in cases of seasonal colds or flu epidemics. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a typical clinical picture and characteristic symptoms of catarrhal inflammation of the tracheal mucosa. Tracheitis is difficult to diagnose in toxic forms of influenza, when airway inflammation should be differentiated from lung tissue disease (pneumonia). In this case, apply physical therapeutic methods, radiography of the chest organs and other methods of examination of the patient, which are in the competence of the pulmonologist.

Forecast

Acute uncomplicated banal tracheitis has a favorable prognosis. With complicated forms and ultra-acute hemorrhagic tracheitis - cautious and even serious.

Treatment

The acute form of tracheitis is most often triggered by a viral infection, usually influenza. In such cases, the treatment of acute tracheitis depends on the symptoms and the severity of the disease. If the tracheitis is not accompanied by complications such as inflammation of the bronchi, sufficient immunomodulating drugs, copious and frequent drinking of herbal expectorant fees, inhalations and aerosol irrigation of the larynx Bioparox. Antiviral and antipyretic drugs are prescribed only in case of severe exacerbation of the disease, when the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees. The use of amisone, interferon, rimantadine or arbidol is shown. Also accepted drugs containing paracetamol or ibuprofen. Exhausting, dry cough is treated with mucolytic syrups, antitussive drugs that have no contraindications. Effective syrups containing licorice root, marshmallows, grinding with warming ointments and mustard plasters. It is also necessary to drink a lot and often, for example, rosehip decoction, which has the vitaminizing and diuretic properties. Bed rest, frequent wet cleaning, restriction of contacts in order to avoid additional infection are also integral measures in the therapy of the acute form of the disease.

Treatment of acute tracheitis is prescribed by a doctor, since the uncontrolled intake of antiviral drugs can lead to complications, and the transformation of tracheitis into a protracted, chronic complicated form.

[6], [7], [8]

Chronic banal tracheitis

Chronic tracheitis is most often the result of an untreated acute form of the disease. With this type of tracheitis, the tracheal mucosa undergoes atrophic changes, as a result of which the patient is followed by attacks of persistent cough, especially at night. Often, tracheitis is accompanied by painful sensations in the sternum, similar in symptoms to pneumonia.

Chronic banal tracheitis can develop from acute banal tracheitis, with the continuation of the causes of primary inflammation and the presence of contributing factors (harmful production, smoking, alcohol consumption), as well as with poor-quality and incomplete treatment of acute banal tracheitis. However, chronic catarrhal tracheitis often occurs as a result of emphysema, heart disease, kidney disease, leading to stagnation phenomena on the basis of circulatory disorders and the presence of catabolites (underoxidized metabolic products) in blood and lymph resulting from these stagnant phenomena.

Chronic banal tracheitis and chronic tracheobronchitis are predominantly adult diseases, but can also occur in children after measles, whooping cough and other childhood infections, complicated by acute tracheitis.

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Pathological anatomy

Chronic banal tracheitis is divided into hypertrophic and atrophic forms. Hypertrophic tracheitis is characterized by venous hyperemia and stagnation, swelling of the tracheal mucosa, enhanced secretion of mucus and purulent sputum. According to some information, hypertrophic tracheitis is only the first stage of the systemic process leading to the second (final) stage - the atrophic form of the disease. The latter is characterized by atrophy of the mucous membrane of the trachea, its thinning. The mucous membrane becomes smooth, shiny, gray, sometimes covered with fine dry crusts, causing an agonizing cough. The fact that there is no isolated atrophic form, since the atrophic process encompasses all the above and below the respiratory tract, speaks about the systemic nature of the process. This consistency manifests itself most clearly with ozen, which, according to some data, is nothing but the true final stage of systemic atrophy of the respiratory tract, culminating in the vegetation of a specific somatic microbiota.

Symptoms

Tracheitis has these symptoms - cough, stronger in the morning and at night. This cough is especially painful when sputum accumulates in the region of the trachea keel, which dries into dense crusts. With the development of an atrophic process, in which only the surface layer of the mucous membrane is affected, the cough reflex persists, but with deeper atrophic phenomena, exciting and nerve endings, the severity of cough decreases. The tracheitis proceeds is long, alternating with the periods of remission and an aggravation.

Diagnostics

Tracheitis is diagnosed on the basis of local pathoanatomical manifestations, usually does not cause difficulties and is performed using tracheoscopy. However, it is much more difficult to establish the cause of this disease.

Treatment

Chronic tracheitis is treated much longer than its acute form. This is due to the fact that the treatment of chronic tracheitis is directed not only at eliminating the cough symptom, but also at treating complications such as pharyngitis and bronchitis. The chronic form of the disease most often has a bacterial etiology, respectively, shows antibacterial therapy. If pus is detected in the sputum, the tracheitis is treated with macrolides, which have a wide spectrum of action and are effective against almost all types of pathogens. The course of treatment can last from two to three weeks, depending on the severity of the disease and complications. Treatment of chronic tracheitis is impossible without inhalations, which can be carried out both with the help of pharmaceutical preparations and with the help of decoctions of ether-containing plants - eucalyptus, pine or fir. Inhalation should be carried out at least twice a day for two weeks, even with subsiding cough. Effectively the use of chlorophyllipt, both in the form of irrigation, so inside. Irrigation of the larynx Bioparox will provide the fastest elimination of inflammatory processes, antitussive syrups will help get rid of the debilitating unproductive cough. In addition to pharmaceutical syrups at home, you can prepare a decoction of Althea or licorice root. Treatment of chronic tracheitis should last at least three weeks, even with early neutralization of cough or temperature, the only way to avoid recurrence of the disease.

Hypertrophic tracheitis, accompanied by the release of mucopurulent sputum, requires the use of inhaled antibiotics, the selection of which is carried out on the basis of the antibiogram, blowing at the time of inhalation of astringent powders. When atrophic processes in the trachea is instilled vitamin oils (carotolin, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil). Crusts are removed by pouring solutions of proteolytic enzymes into the trachea. Basically, the treatment corresponds to that with banal laryngitis and bronchitis.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16],

Tracheitis in some infectious diseases

Tracheitis in infectious diseases, in which the upper respiratory tract is most often affected, and in particular, the larynx, occurs very rarely and, as a rule, is secondary. These diseases include infections that are acute (measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid, etc.) and chronically (tuberculosis, syphilis, scleroma, etc.). The appearance of those and others in the trachea only slightly aggravates the general picture of the lesions of the upper respiratory tract, but in themselves they are never fatal to the life of the patient. Only in cases where the destructive process goes beyond the trachea and affects the neighboring organs (esophagus, blood vessels and nerves), serious complications can occur that significantly worsen the general course of the disease, and sometimes even lead to death.

Diagnostics

Tracheitis is diagnosed on the basis of a set of methods described for laryngeal diseases. The same is true for the treatment of these forms of the disease.

Treatment

Tracheitis is treated symptomatically and specifically, the treatment corresponds to each type of infection.

Forecast

Tracheitis has a very varied prognosis, from benign to very serious. It is determined by the type of infection, its complications, the timeliness of the final diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment. 

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Tracheitis and bronchitis

Tracheitis, accompanied by inflammation of the bronchial tree, is called tracheobronchitis. Acute tracheitis and bronchitis are almost always adjacent to each other. Most often, the inflammatory process proceeds in the following sequence: a viral or bacterial infection affects the larynx mucosa, laryngitis develops, then acute tracheitis and bronchitis begin. Thus, the pathological process is distributed in accordance with the anatomical location of the organs of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms that tracheitis and bronchitis exhibit are also similar - a characteristic cough, weakness, feverish state with an increase in body temperature, increased sweating, and headache. Tracheobronchitis differs from simple laryngitis and pharyngitis primarily in the nature of cough. A “dry”, dry cough is inherent in laryngitis, as well as a hoarse voice and difficulty breathing. Cough is also characteristic of tracheobronchitis, but it does not affect the timbre and sonority of the voice, moreover, it is difficult not to inhale, but to exhale, there is pain in the chest region, which can radiate to the area between the shoulder blades. The developing tracheitis and bronchitis are accompanied first by dry cough attacks, more often at night, then the cough acquires moisture, sputum begins to depart. In addition, tracheobronchitis is always manifested by harsh breathing with typical wheezing. Phlegm, which in the course of the process departs more and more intensively, can “prompt” the possible causes of the disease: 

• The greenish-yellow hue of the discharge indicates a bacterial infection.
• Liquid in structure, clear and light sputum indicates a viral infection or allergy.
• The sputum, a white shade, dense on a consistence, often in the form of clots speaks about a fungal infection.

Tracheitis and bronchitis, in addition to standard diagnostic methods, is determined using an auscultatory test: the patient takes a deep breath and then a sharp exhalation. With narrowed bronchi, the exhalation is literally “heard” by a typical bronchial whistle.

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Viral tracheitis

Viral tracheitis is most often an acute tracheitis. In children, tracheal inflammation is caused by adenoviruses, which are characterized by high contagiousness and non-seasonal prevalence. The basis of the form of adenoviral infections are diseases of the upper respiratory tract, that is, larynx, nasopharynx and trachea. Viral tracheitis in adults is also not uncommon, but it most often develops during the epidemic spread of influenza viruses. The signs that distinguish viral tracheitis from a disease of bacterial etiology depend on the severity of the process, but the most characteristic parameters of viral inflammation of the trachea are rhinitis and the specific structure of sputum that leaves after two or three days

From the start of infection. Viral tracheitis is almost always accompanied by clear nasal secretions and a fairly seemingly seeming effluent. Also, the disease of viral etiology can be manifested by headache, hyperthermia and general malaise. Viral tracheitis, despite the severity of its course, is treated much faster than other types of inflammation of the trachea, sometimes a course of expectorant and immunomodulatory drugs and bed rest is sufficient.

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Tracheitis during pregnancy

Tracheitis during pregnancy, unfortunately, is not uncommon, as well as rhinitis or laryngitis. The most common form of the disease is viral tracheitis, which is formed against the background of a sore throat, inflamed tonsils or acute respiratory disease. Viral tracheitis, however, like any other infectious disease, is dangerous for both the mother and the fetus, because the pathogens are able to penetrate the placental barrier. Tracheitis during pregnancy is quite a serious threat in terms of treatment if the disease is diagnosed as a bacterial infection. Indeed, in this case, treatment with antibiotics is indispensable, and any antibacterial agents are undesirable for the body of a pregnant woman. In addition, tracheitis during pregnancy can have complications such as bronchitis and even bronchopneumonia, which is even more dangerous for the health of the mother and fetal development.

The only reliable way to prevent tracheitis during pregnancy is prevention, that is, the maximum restriction of contact with patients, sneezing, coughing people who can be found in public places and hospitals.

Prevention

The best way to treat any disease is prevention, not an exception in this sense, and tracheitis. The main task, which involves the prevention of tracheitis - is the maintenance of immunity in the proper form, because tracheitis is mainly caused by viruses. It is also important to comply with safety measures if there are people in your environment who are suffering from acute respiratory diseases. The path of transmission of tracheitis is 75% airborne, less commonly household. Personal hygiene, that is, the classic washing and frequent hand washing helps to avoid not only viral but also bacterial infections. Prevention of tracheitis is the rejection of bad habits, especially smoking, by the way, passive smoking is no less dangerous in the sense of provoking diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Vitamin therapy, body protection through hardening, regular wet cleaning and an active lifestyle will help reduce the risk of developing the disease or avoid it altogether.

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