Necrotizing tracheobronchitis.

To the Editor.— We read with interest the report by Mimouni et al1 of a case of necrotizing tracheobronchitis. We agree that survival is possible for patients with necrotizing tracheobronchitis. We recently reported eight cases of necrotizing tracheobronchitis diagnosed prospectively (between January 1983 and September 1984) and 12 cases identified retrospectively.2 From these cases, we identified characteristic clinical findings. These findings, which follow, should alert clinicians early enough to institute therapy for necrotizing tracheobronchitis. Necrotizing tracheobronchitis supervenes on a previously stable course in an infant requiring mechanical ventilation.