ABSTRACT
The supraglottic larynx is almost exclusively affected, and flexible nasopharyngoscopy reveals a cherry-red epiglottis. The safest way to manage the patients is to bring them to the operating room for mask induction by the anaesthetist and microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy by the otolaryngologist. If time permits, the child is nasotracheally intubated. Bacterial tracheitis is a severe bacterial infection of the trachea usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The clinician should suspect bacterial tracheitis in any child who presents with worsening cough, stridor, high fever and leucocytosis. Tracheal stenosis may be acquired from intubation-related scarring or intubation may exacerbate an underlying congenital tracheal stenosis from complete tracheal rings. Patients with subglottic haemangioma usually present with biphasic stridor that worsens as the haemangioma enlarges. Causes of biphasic stridor extrinsic to the trachea usually are related to compression of the tracheal airway from vascular sources or masses.
