Tracheobronchomalacia

Tracheobronchomalacia (say "tray-kee-oh-brong-koh-muh-LAY-shee-uh") is a rare condition that some babies are born with. The walls of your child's windpipe (trachea) and airways (bronchial tubes) are weak and soft. The weak walls can narrow or block the airways and make it hard for your child to breathe. The symptoms may not appear until after the first weeks or months of life. If the problem is mild, most children outgrow it by age 2.

You may:

• Have a cough that will not go away.
• Feel short of breath.
• Cough up mucus or blood.
• Make a whistling noise when you breathe in or out.

Most children outgrow this condition when the problem is mild. Treatment depends on what symptoms your child has.

It's important to keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your home.

If the problem is severe, your doctor may talk to you about options such as:

• Using CPAP, a small machine that helps keep your child's airway open. CPAP stands for "continuous positive airway pressure."
• Inserting stents. These are small tubes that expand and help open the airway.
• Surgery. The type of surgery will depend on how severe your child's condition is.

The best way to keep the condition from getting worse is to treat the medical problem that caused it, like COPD.

There are other things you can do. For example, avoid tobacco smoke and other bad air. If you already smoke, it is never too late to stop. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good. Air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust also can make it hard to breathe.

If you have tracheobronchomalacia, you may have a higher risk of getting infections such as COVID-19, the flu, or pneumonia. Vaccines for COVID-19, the flu, and pneumonia may keep you from getting ill. If you do get these illnesses, having had a vaccine may help keep you from getting as sick as you would have if you didn't get the vaccine.