Diagnosis

The presence of an inflammation of the trachea is diagnosed in most cases on the basis of the typical symptoms. During an extensive doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis), the affected patient should therefore describe in as much detail as possible what symptoms are present and under what conditions they are observed. Especially the hoarse voice and the permanent irritable cough can provide a first indication of the underlying problem.

Following this doctor-patient consultation, the attending physician usually conducts a physical examination. During this examination, the lungs are listened to for abnormalities and tapped. If there is an inflammation of the windpipe, conspicuous flow sounds can be heard, especially during exhalation.

In children, these are usually already detectable without a stethoscope. In addition, the taking of X-rays can help to rule out pneumonia. If the findings are unclear, a pulmonary function examination can also be ordered. However, since inflammation of the trachea can usually be diagnosed by looking at the clinic alone, this is rarely necessary.

All articles in this series: