What Is Tracheitis?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Diagnosis
Tracheitis is notoriously hard to diagnose, but doctors often test for it when children have symptoms of croup that do not respond to treatment. Besides a white blood cell count, a sample of fluid from the trachea is taken and cultured to determine whether bacteria are present.
The most conclusive way to diagnose tracheitis is through laryngotracheobronchoscopy. In this technique, a surgeon inserts a rigid telescope into the trachea of an anesthetized patient to get a direct view of the inflammation. If this technique is not available, X-rays can provide some information about the condition of the trachea.
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