Tracheitis is a respiratory disease of an infectious or allergic origin. Inflammation of the trachea can be triggered by various infectious agents - fungi, bacteria or viruses. If the disease is not treated, the infection will progress, as a result of which complications may arise - bronchitis, laryngotracheitis, pneumonia, etc. Is tracheitis contagious?
Contagiousness, i.e. the degree of infectiousness of the disease largely depends on the nature of the causative agent of the infection. It should be borne in mind that pathology rarely develops on its own. Inflammation of the trachea is often accompanied by laryngitis, otitis media, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, ARVI and other respiratory pathologies. In addition, the likelihood of infection depends on the immune status of the person in contact with the sick person.
Features of the disease
The trachea belongs to the lower respiratory tract and is located between the larynx and the bronchi. Many people mistakenly believe that it is located too deep, so it is almost impossible to get infected with tracheitis by airborne droplets. When assessing the degree of contagiousness of the disease, it is necessary to take into account several important factors, namely:
- ENT disease in 93% of cases develops against the background of other respiratory pathologies that are contagious;
- with damage to the trachea, patients have coughing fits, during which sputum is coughing up, which may contain pathogens;
- the likelihood of contracting an infection depends on the resistance of a healthy person, i.e. with reduced immunity, the risk of infection increases several times.
Before determining the cause of the development of the disease, contact with the patient should be limited to prevent infection.
Viral tracheitis
Is it possible to get tracheitis if it is triggered by the development of pathogenic viruses? Viral tracheitis is contagious and can be transmitted by airborne droplets. Inflammation of the respiratory system can be caused by:
- adenoviruses;
- influenza virus;
- rhinoviruses;
- coronaviruses.
In the acute course of the disease, the patient has a dry spastic cough. During an attack, a large number of infectious agents are evacuated from the respiratory tract, which can be inhaled by a healthy person. In addition, viral tracheitis is very often preceded by highly contagious colds - influenza, scarlet fever, ARVI, etc. They are easily transmitted by airborne droplets, but only during the incubation period. In other words, tracheitis is the most contagious 2-3 days after infection of the ENT organs. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to send the "victim" to quarantine in a separate room for 5-7 days.
Viral tracheitis is a contagious disease that can be transmitted by airborne droplets.
Bacterial tracheitis
Bacterial infections can be caused by staphylococci, pneumococci and other gram-positive microbes. Some strains of bacteria are conditionally pathogenic and are found in the body of a healthy person, but in small quantities. In addition, in the environment, pathogens quickly die, so it is more difficult to become infected with bacterial tracheitis.
It should be noted that pathogenic bacteria can be transmitted through saliva, i.e. contact-household way. Kissing and sharing utensils or towels can cause respiratory tract inflammation. Therefore, if a patient has been diagnosed with bacterial tracheitis, household members should provide him with separate dishes and hygiene products.
Few people know that in the absence of adequate treatment for a viral disease, the body's immune defense is weakened. This can provoke the addition of a bacterial infection and the development of the so-called mixed tracheitis. The disease is highly contagious. Bacterial tracheitis is less contagious than viral, and is transmitted by contact and household contact when using the same dishes and hygiene products.
If a patient was diagnosed with viral tracheitis, but after a few days impurities of pus were found in the sputum, most likely he "picked up" a bacterial infection. In this case, it is worth re-seeking help from a doctor, and households - to limit contact with the patient until the reasons for the deterioration of his health are clarified.
Fungal tracheitis
Fungal tracheitis (tracheomycosis) often develops with a decrease in the reactivity of the body. As a rule, the causative agents of infection are opportunistic fungi that inhabit the mucous membranes of the ENT organs of healthy people. But when favorable conditions arise, they begin to multiply uncontrollably, causing inflammation of the trachea. Is tracheomycosis contagious?
If the development of the disease was triggered by the Candida fungus, it will not be possible to get the infection. However, the causative agents of mycoses can also be Aspergillus, which are pathogenic strains of fungi. They can be transmitted by contact and airborne droplets. Therefore, it is advisable to refrain from close contact with the patient before microbiological and serological analysis.
Candidal tracheitis is not contagious, but aspergillus (aspergillosis) and actinomycetes (actinomycosis) can provoke infection with a mycotic infection.
It should be noted that the causative agents of actinomycosis can exist outside the human body for a long time, and at high temperatures they quickly die.
In the case of using the same cutlery with a sick person, it is recommended to first scald them with boiling water.
Chronic tracheitis
Sluggish infectious tracheitis, as a rule, occurs due to inadequate treatment of the acute form of ENT disease. The provocateurs of chronic inflammation of the trachea are all the same microbes - Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, meningococcus, etc. Can they get infected and how?
With prolonged remission, it is almost impossible to become infected with tracheitis, even with very close contact with a carrier of a bacterial infection. Cough and other symptoms of tracheitis are mild, so the infection is certainly not transmitted by airborne droplets. But in the case of a decrease in immunity, inflammatory processes in the trachea can worsen, which is associated with the activation and uncontrolled reproduction of microbes. But, as in the case of a bacterial disease, pathogenic flora can penetrate into the body of a healthy person only through a contact-household way.
Chronic tracheitis in the stage of remission is not contagious and is transmitted by contact-household means only with relapses of inflammation.
Allergic tracheitis
Pathologies of an allergic nature are non-contagious diseases, so it is impossible to get infected with them. But edema and inflammation of the tracheal tissues, provoked by irritation of the mucous membrane, leads to a decrease in local immunity. As a result, this can cause septic (infectious) inflammation of the respiratory tract. How to understand that an infection has joined the allergy?
With allergic tracheitis, a spastic cough occurs, but there are no traces of pus in the sputum. If pathogens enter the inflamed tissue, this leads to the appearance of additional symptoms:
- sore throat;
- discomfort when swallowing;
- soreness of the lymph nodes;
- mucopurulent sputum.
In other words, allergies can trigger tracheal infections. If, after eliminating the allergen and taking antihistamines, the symptoms of the disease do not disappear, you should consult a doctor.Perhaps allergic edema of the mucous membranes provoked a decrease in immunity and, as a result, the reproduction of opportunistic fungi or bacteria.
How not to get infected?
One of the main ways of spreading infection is through air. During a coughing attack in a patient, infectious agents are released into the air, which a healthy person can inhale. If his immune system is weakened, this can provoke the multiplication of infectious agents and, as a result, cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. How can you prevent infection?
It is possible to significantly reduce the likelihood of developing respiratory infections by taking immunostimulating agents. An increase in nonspecific immunity allows you to increase the body's resistance to fungi, bacteria and viruses. Therefore, on the eve of seasonal ENT diseases, it is recommended to take such pharmaceuticals as:
- "Radiola extract";
- "Tincture of sterculia";
- "Svyatogor";
- Vitastim;
- Cycloferon;
- Pegasis;
- Glutoxim.
Vitamin-mineral complexes have an immunostimulating effect, which accelerate redox reactions in the body and thereby increase tissue reactivity. To strengthen the immune system, you can take "Complivit Active", "Dynamizan", "Alphabet" and "Aevit".
