Tracheomalacia

What are the signs and symptoms of tracheomalacia?

• Noisy breathing, especially a wheezing sound
• Breathing problems that get worse with activity or colds
• High-pitched breathing
• "Happy wheezing" (children have normal oxygen levels and disposition, unlike wheezing in asthma or cystic fibrosis)
• No improvement in wheezing with bronchodilator therapy
• Normal vital signs despite respiratory symptoms
• Recurrent pneumonia
• Chronic cough
• Apnea in infancy

What tests are used to diagnose tracheomalacia?

Doctors will often use fluoroscopy, an X-ray that shows movement and allows doctors to see how your child's trachea looks while breathing in and out. It will also help doctors see what type of tracheomalacia is present and the cause.

Other tests that can be helpful when diagnosing tracheomalacia include: CT scans (a test that combines a lot of X-ray images to show an entire area of the body in detail), pulmonary function tests (tests that show how much air a child can breathe in and out), and bronchoscopy or laryngoscopy (tests in which a doctor uses a tiny camera to see the inside of a child's airways). Many times flexible bronchoscopy (.pdf) is required for diagnosis and to determine the severity of tracheomalacia and its impact on breathing.

How do providers at Children's Hospital Colorado make a diagnosis?

Providers will do a physical exam and ask about the child's symptoms and health history. They will also measure the levels of oxygen in your child's blood, which will help them decide if the symptoms are caused by tracheomalacia or a different condition. They may also use one or more of the tests above to help make the diagnosis.

How is tracheomalacia treated?

Tracheomalacia often improves on its own as babies get older and their bodies continue to develop. The condition is entirely gone by the time most children turn 3 years old. Humidified air and careful feedings are typically enough to relieve symptoms.

Severe tracheomalacia requires aggressive lung treatments to clear mucus and treat infection. These treatments should be overseen by a pediatric pulmonologist. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to correct tracheomalacia.

Why choose Children's Colorado for your child's tracheomalacia?

The Aerodigestive Program at Children's Colorado is the only one of its kind in the Western United States. The team is dedicated to the comprehensive and multidisciplinary management of children with complex airway and digestive tract disorders. We treat only children all day, everyday – making us experts when it comes to caring for kids.

Our patients' families are considered essential members of the health care team and are encouraged to participate in planning the patient’s treatment course. This family-centered care approach allows for greater efficiency in scheduling visits and procedures. In addition, family-centered care provides the opportunity for enhanced patient and family education, which can help improve our patients' overall experience and outcomes.