Learn About Congenital Tracheomalacia
Congenital tracheomalacia is weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea). Congenital means it is present at birth. Acquired tracheomalacia is a related topic.
Type 1 tracheomalacia
Tracheomalacia in a newborn occurs when the cartilage in the windpipe has not developed properly. Instead of being rigid, the walls of the trachea are floppy. Because the windpipe is the main airway, breathing problems begin soon after birth.
Congenital tracheomalacia is very uncommon.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Symptoms may include:
- Breathing noises that may change with position and improve during sleep
- Breathing problems that get worse with coughing, crying, feeding, or upper respiratory infections (such as cold)
- High-pitched breathing
- Rattling or noisy breaths
Most infants respond well to humidified air, careful feedings, and antibiotics for infections. Babies with tracheomalacia must be closely monitored when they have respiratory infections.
Often, the symptoms of tracheomalacia improve as the infant grows.
Rarely, surgery is needed.
Children's Hospital Medical Center
Michael Rutter is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and an Otolaryngologist in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Rutter is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Tracheomalacia. His top areas of expertise are Laryngomalacia, Larynx Atresia, Laryngeal Cleft, Endoscopy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Rutter is currently accepting new patients.
Proliance Surgeons Bellevue Ear, Nose & Throat And Sound Hearing
Jonathan Kopelovich, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist, who cares for problems that affect the head, neck, ear, nose and throat. He has additional board-certification and fellowship training in complex pediatric otolaryngology and has extensive experience in airway, craniofacial and ear surgery for children. Dr. Kopelovich believes in a collaborative and holistic approach to caring for every child.Raised on the gulf coast of Florida, Dr. Kopelovich pursued higher education in Philadelphia. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, then attended Jefferson Medical College and spent an additional year at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia devoted to cochlear implant research in children.Inspired by these experiences, Dr. Kopelovich completed otolaryngology residency and a neurobiology research fellowship at the University of Iowa, followed by a fellowship year in pediatric ENT at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. While training, he focused on diseases affecting breathing, sleep, facial development and hearing. In addition to a stellar publication record, Dr. Kopelovich is passionate about decreasing the environmental impact of medicine. Since starting in practice with Bellevue Ear Nose and Throat, Dr. Kopelovich has organized and led multiple interdisciplinary provider groups in King County to help coordinate care for children with complicated head and neck issues. Additionally, he serves as the pediatric otolaryngology consultant for four neonatal ICUs.Dr. Kopelovich lives on Mercer Island with his wife, Rachel, a Seattle native and acupuncturist, and their three children. He enjoys hiking and skiing with his family in the Cascades and is an avid fan of all elements of hip hop culture. Dr. Kopelovich is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Tracheomalacia. His top areas of expertise are Hearing Loss, Enlarged Adenoids, Stridor, and Low Nasal Bridge.
University Hospitals Medical Group Inc
Jay Shah is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist and an Otolaryngologist in Westlake, Ohio. Dr. Shah is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Tracheomalacia. His top areas of expertise are Laryngomalacia, Subglottic Stenosis, Enlarged Adenoids, Stridor, and Adenoidectomy. Dr. Shah is currently accepting new patients.
Congenital tracheomalacia most often goes away on its own by the age of 18 to 24 months. As the cartilage gets stronger and the trachea grows, the noisy and difficult breathing slowly improves. People with tracheomalacia must be monitored closely when they have respiratory infections.
Babies born with tracheomalacia may have other congenital abnormalities, such as heart defects, developmental delay, or gastroesophageal reflux.
Aspiration pneumonia can occur from inhaling food into the lungs or windpipe.
Contact your health care provider if your child has breathing difficulties or noisy breathing. Tracheomalacia can become an urgent or emergency condition.
Summary: Esophageal atresia is the most common congenital anomaly of the esophagus and is caused by abnormal development of the esophagus during intrauterine life. In children with esophageal atresia, structural abnormalities due to congenital anomalies and tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheomalacia, respiratory problems, recurrent respiratory tract infections, structural abnormalities, surgical interventio...
Published Date: April 06, 2025
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Sun X. Normal and abnormal structural development of the lung. In: Polin RA, Abman SH, Rowitch DH, Benitz WE, Fox WW, eds. Fetal and Neonatal Physiology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 55.