Bronchiectasis is a condition where the bronchial tubes of your lungs are permanently damaged, widened, and thickened. These damaged air passages allow bacteria and mucus to build up and pool in your lungs. This results in frequent infections and blockages of the airways.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of bronchiectasis can take months or even years to develop. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
• Persistent cough full of phlegm.
• Coughing up blood
• Abnormal sounds or wheezing in the chest with breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain and joint pain
• Coughing up large amounts of thick mucus every day
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Change in the structure of fingernails and toenails, known as clubbing
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Coughing up blood or bloodstained phlegm
Causes:
Any lung injury can cause bronchiectasis. There are two main categories of this condition.
One is related to having cystic fibrosis (CF), and is known as CF bronchiectasis. CF is a genetic condition that causes an abnormal production of mucus.
The other category is non-CF bronchiectasis, which isn’t related to CF. The most commonly known conditions that can lead to non-CF bronchiectasis include:
• An abnormally functioning immune system
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Autoimmune diseases
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (an inheritable cause of COPD)
• HIV
• Allergic Aspergillosis (an allergic lung reaction to fungus)
• Lung infections such as whooping cough and tuberculosis
• CF affects the lungs and other organs like the pancreas and liver. In the lungs, this results in repeated infections. In other organs, it causes poor functioning.
Diagnoses:
Firstly, the doctor listens to the lungs and breathing to check for any abnormal sounds or evidence of airway blockage. Then a complete blood test is done to look for infection and anemia. Other tests may include:
• Sputum test to check mucus for any viruses, fungi, or bacteria.
• Chest X-ray or CT scan to provide images of lungs
• Pulmonary/Lung function tests to find out how well the air is flowing into the lungs
• QuantiFERON blood test or purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test to check for tuberculosis
• Sweat test to screen for Cystic Fibrosis
• High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan
• Bronchoscopy
Treatments:
There is no cure for bronchiectasis, but it is manageable. With treatment, you can typically live a normal life. However, flare-ups must be treated quickly to maintain oxygen flow to the rest of your body and prevent further lung damage.
• Stopping smoking
• Flu vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Exercising regularly
• Staying well hydrated
• Exercising
• Active Cycle of Breathing Techniques (ACBT)
• Postural drainage
• Medication
• Nebulized medications
• Bronchodilators
• Antibiotics
• Preventative treatment
• Surgery
