[citation needed] One of the most common causes is Staphylococcus aureus and often follows a recent viral upper respiratory infection.

[4] It is the most serious in young children, possibly because of the relatively small size of the trachea that gets easily blocked by swelling.

A condition called tracheo-bronchitis can be caused, when the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi swell.

[citation needed] The diagnosis of tracheitis requires the direct vision of exudates or pseudomembranes on the trachea.

Suspicion for tracheitis should be high in cases of onset of airway obstruction that do not respond to racemic epinephrine.