A child presented with features of bacterial tracheitis with complete response to therapy. He presented with a recurrence one week later. A foreign body in the tracheal wall was diagnosed and removed by bronchoscopy.

Tracheal intubation for airway management and tracheal toileting are not enough in bacterial tracheitis; bronchoscopy should be considered to diagnose any underlying cause. Keywords : tracheitis, airway obstruction, bacterial infections, foreign body