Bronchiectasis (patient information)

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Bronchiectasis

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Bronchiectasis?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Bronchiectasis On the Web

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FDA on Bronchiectasis

CDC on Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis in the news

Blogs on Bronchiectasis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Bronchiectasis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Bronchiectasis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer

Overview

Bronchiectasis is destruction and widening of the large airways.

What are the symptoms of Bronchiectasis?

Symptoms often develop gradually, and may occur months or years after the event that causes the bronchiectasis.

They may include:

What causes Bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis is often caused by recurrent inflammation or infection of the airways. It most often begins in childhood as a complication from infection or inhaling a foreign object.

Cystic fibrosis causes about half of all bronchiectasis in the United States.

The condition can also be caused by routinely breathing in food particles while eating.

Who is at highest risk?

Recurrent, severe lung infections (pneumonia, tuberculosis, fungal infections), abnormal lung defenses, and obstruction of the airways by a foreign body or tumor are some of the risk factors.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if:

Diagnosis

When listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear small clicking, bubbling, wheezing, rattling, or other sounds, usually in the lower lobes of the lungs.

Tests may include:

Treatment options

Treatment is aimed at controlling infections and bronchial secretions, relieving airway obstruction, and preventing complications.

Regular, daily drainage to remove bronchial secretions is a routine part of treatment. A respiratory therapist can show the patient coughing exercises that will help.

Antibiotics, bronchodilators, and expectorants are often prescribed for infections.

Surgery to resect the lung may be needed if medicine does not work or if the patient has massive bleeding.

Where to find medical care for Bronchiectasis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Bronchiectasis

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

With treatment, most people can lead normal lives without major disability.

Possible complications

Prevention

The risk may be reduced if lung infections are promptly treated.

Childhood vaccinations and a yearly flu vaccine help reduce the chance of some infections. Avoiding upper respiratory infections, smoking, and pollution may also reduce your risk of infection.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000144.htm


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