Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a condition where the lung's

bronchi

become permanently damaged and widened. It leads to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection. Bronchiectasis is more common in women than in men. The risk of developing bronchiectasis increases with age.
Tobacco smoking can worsen pulmonary function and accelerate the progression of disease that is already present.
Symptoms

Cough with mucus or without mucus

  • Production of clear-white mucus

  • Lasting 4 weeks or more

  • Production of yellowish-gray mucus

  • Recurrent

  • With bloody mucus

common

Blocked nose

  • Lasting 4 weeks or more

common

Difficulty breathing

  • Recurrent

  • Occurs or worsens with exertion

common

Reduced ability or completely losing sense of smell

common

Fatigue

common

Whistling breathing

  • Recurrent

Leaking urine

  • During exercise or activities, or when coughing, laughing, or sneezing

Chest discomfort

  • Sudden, intense spike of pain

  • Recurrent

  • Occurs or worsens with deep inspiration

  • Occurs or worsens with laughing, coughing or sneezing

  • Severe

  • Rapidly developing

Weight loss

Fever

  • Greater than or equal to 38°C (100.4°F), Less than 38°C (100.4°F)

Risk factors

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Cystic fibrosis

Tuberculosis

or Infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

or Rheumatoid arthritis

or Thick and hard skin

or Marfan syndrome

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Falling sick easily

Long-term difficulty breathing due to the narrowing of bronchi

Treatment
1-Antibiotics. 2-Macrolides, drugs used to treat infections and inflammations at the same time. 3-Drugs that affect mucus and help you cough the mucus out. 4-Airway clearance devices to break up mucus and help you cough it out. 5-Bronchodilators. 6-Surgery.
Recommended specialist

If you have Bronchiectasis, then a visit to a pulmonologist is highly recommended.

Contact a

Pulmonologist

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