Causes

The causes for the development of an inflammation of the trachea can be different. The most common form of this disease is acute tracheitis. In most cases it is caused by bacterial or viral pathogens.

In most cases, the affected patients first fall ill with a simple infection of the upper respiratory tract (bronchitis) with cough and rhinitis. After an initial infection of the paranasal sinus and avenue area, the pathogens reach the larynx and trigger inflammatory processes there. As the infection progresses, the causative pathogens spread further and settle one floor below in the area of the trachea.

In direct comparison, most inflammatory processes in the larynx and trachea are caused by viruses. Bacterial infections are much rarer in this area. In patients who suffer from a limited immune system (for example, diabetes mellitus or HIV), the inflammation of the trachea can also be caused by fungi.

Chronic forms of tracheal inflammation are in most cases related to chemical irritants. This form of tracheal inflammation can be observed especially in long-term smokers. In addition, chronic tracheitis can be caused by narrowing of the windpipe (for example, due to a tumor) or mechanical obstacles (foreign bodies).

Another common cause of inflammatory processes in the trachea is the so-called “tracheomalacia”. In this disease, a pathological slackening of the tracheal muscles occurs, which leads to prolonged irritable cough. The inflammation of the trachea can be divided into different forms according to certain criteria. Such subdivision of this disease is particularly useful in terms of choosing the most appropriate treatment. Classification by form of progression: Classification by cause: Classification by pathology:

Acute inflammation of the trachea
Chronic inflammation of the trachea
Infectious inflammation of the trachea
Allergic inflammation of the windpipe
Chemically irritant inflammation of the trachea (e.g. by irritant gases)
Mechanically irritant inflammation of the trachea (for example after intubation)
Membranous inflammation of the trachea
Pseudomembranous inflammation of the trachea
Hemorrhagic inflammation of the trachea
Necrotizing inflammation of the trachea