Duration of tracheitis

The duration of a tracheitis depends on the cause. If a virus infection is the trigger, the inflammation often heals on its own after a few days to two weeks. If a bacterial (super) infection also develops, recovery can take longer to 2-3 weeks.

Infants, old people and people with previous illnesses are risk patients, and more severe courses of disease can occur. The therapy can last from several weeks to months. If, in rare cases, a chemical substance that is inhaled is responsible for the inflammation, the inflammation should usually disappear again after the end of exposure (suspension).

Prevention (Prevention)

Due to the numerous causes, the prevention of tracheal inflammation can prove to be difficult. The chronic forms are mostly caused by inhalation of irritating substances. Since cigarette smoke plays a decisive role in this context, early cessation of smoking can help to prevent tracheitis.

In addition, occupational exposure to various substances that irritate the mucous membranes can lead to permanent inhalation. The prevention of the development of inflammatory processes in the area of the windpipe can be ensured for the affected persons by wearing a respiratory mask. In addition, it can be observed that especially people with a poor immune system (immune deficiency) often suffer from an inflammation of the trachea.

For this reason, strengthening the body’s own immune system is an important step in the prevention of inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. In most cases, a balanced vitamin-rich diet and regular exercise in the fresh air are sufficient to strengthen the immune system in the long term. In addition, humidifying the dry room air should also help both to alleviate the symptoms of an already existing inflammation of the trachea and to reduce the risk of developing such a disease.

Dry room air irritates the mucous membranes and dries them out. As a result, the causative pathogens can penetrate the tissue of the trachea more easily and multiply unhindered. The release of their metabolic end products ultimately drives various inflammatory reactions and can lead to inflammation of the trachea.

Depending on the cause of the tracheitis, it can also be contagious. Tracheitis is often caused by viruses or bacteria.These can be transmitted through the air by droplet infection when coughing or sneezing and can also cause inflammation of the windpipe or other parts of the respiratory tract in other people. Immunocompromised persons such as infants, the elderly or patients with previous illnesses are particularly at risk. If the tracheitis was caused by an existing allergy or the exposure to chemical pollutants, this inflammation is not contagious.