A positive history of a prior viral infection and followed by stridor and dyspnea is suggestive of tracheitis. ^[1]

Patients with tracheitis may have a positive history of: ^[2]

• Increasing deep or barking croup cough following a previous upper respiratory infection

Common symptoms of tracheitis include: ^{[3] [4]}

• Crowing sound when the child inhales (inspiratory stridor)
• ‘Scratchy’ feeling in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Shortness of breath
• Mild dysphagia
• Fever
• Intercostal retractions (the muscles between the ribs pull in as the child attempts to breathe)
• Drooling

Less common symptoms of tracheitis include: ^{[5] [6] [7]}

• Respiratory distress in less than 24 hours of a viral infection
• Neck pain
• Orthopnea
• Dysphonia
• Syncope
• Cyanosis