Bronchiectasis - Medtick

Bronchiectasis

What is it?

Bronchiectasis is the permanently damaged, widened, and thickened of the airways of the lungs, including the bronchi and bronchioles.

  • This condition causes inflammation of the airways producing a high levels of mucus.
  • The inflammation and high levels of mucus causes damage to the cilia (the finger-like lining of the airways that clear mucus and debris) an this can lead to obstruction.
  • Mucus cannot be easily cleared because of this and as result it sits in the lungs, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and leading to further lung and/or chest infections.
  • It mainly occurs from a young age or from other respiratory conditions.

It is classified as both :

  • Obstructive lung disease along with asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) along with Chronic bronchitis and emphysema

Diagnosis Tests

The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ October 2020, Vol 305, No 7942;305(7942):DOI:10.1211/
PJ.2020.20208431

verywellhealth

Cause

Medication

  • Post- chemotherapy/radiotherapy

Syndromes 

Symptoms

(Symptoms may take time to develop and may get worst when one has an infection)

  • Chronic cough that gets worse when lying down (cough is longer than three weeks)?
  • Thick, foul-smelling mucus when you cough every day?
  • Coughing up blood?
  • Shortness of breath and/or breathing difficulties?
  • Wheezing?
  • Abnormal sounds or wheezing in the chest with breathing?
  • Recurrent chest infections
  • Coughing up blood?
  • Low Exercise intolerance (breathing difficulties when exercising)?
  • Joint pain?
  • Rib pain due to coughing?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance, if have symptoms or develop:

  • Severe lung infection:
    • A bluish tinge to the skin and lips (cyanosis)
    • Confusion
    • High temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
    • Rapid breathing (more than 25 breaths a minute)
    • Severe chest pain that makes it too painful to cough and clear your lungs

NHSUK


This condition can lead to:

  • Pleurisy
  • Weight loss
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)
  • Pain when breathing

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Bronchiectasis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).