Bronchiectasis Health Article

Definition

Bronchiectasis is destruction and widening of the large airways. A person may be born with it (congenital bronchiectasis) or may develop it later in life.

Alternative Names

Acquired bronchiectasis; Congenital bronchiectasis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Bronchiectasis is often caused by recurrent inflammation or infection of the airways. It may be present at birth, but most often begins in childhood as a complication from infection or inhaling a foreign object.

Cystic fibrosis causes about 50% of all bronchiectasis in the United States today. Recurrent, severe lung infections (pneumonia, tuberculosis, fungal infections), abnormal lung defenses, and obstruction of the airway by a foreign body or tumor are some of the predisposing factors. It can also be caused by routinely breathing in food particles while eating.

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

Symptoms

• Chronic cough with large amounts of foul-smelling sputum production
• Coughing up blood
• Cough worsened by lying on one side
• Shortness of breath worsened by exercise
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Clubbing of fingers may be present (abnormal amount of tissue in the fingernail beds)
• Wheezing
• Skin discoloration bluish
• Paleness
• Breath odor

Signs and tests

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:

• Chest x-ray
• Chest CT
• Sputum culture
• CBC
• Sweat test or other cystic fibrosis testing
• Serum Immunoglobulin analysis
• Serum precipitins (testing for antibodies to the fungus aspergillus)
• PPD (purified protein derivative) skin test for prior TB infection