Bronchiectasis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Cures, and Remedies for Bronchiectasis.

• What is Bronchiectasis?

  Bronchiectasis is an abnormal dilation (widening) and destruction of the large airways.

• What causes Bronchiectasis?

  A person may be born with it (congenital bronchiectasis) or may acquire it later in life as a result of another disorder.

  Bronchiectasis is usually caused by recurrent episodes of inflammation and/or infection of the air ways. It may be present at birth (congenital bronchiectasis) but in most cases, it onsets in childhood resulting from the complication involving infection of major airways or as a result of inhaling a foreign object.

  Cystic fibrosis causes more than half of all documented cases of bronchiectasis in the United States today. Severe lung infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, fungal infections, and obstruction of the airway by an inhaled foreign body or a tumor are also known to cause Bronchiectasis.

• How long does it take to develop Bronchiectasis?

  Bronchiectasis symptoms usually develop gradually over time. It is not uncommon for the symptoms to occur years after the event that causes the bronchiectasis.

• Is Bronchiectasis a life threatening lung disease?

  Unless there are complications, bronchiectasis it usually not considered to be a life threatening disease. However, it can be quite a social embarrassment for some patients.

• What are the common symptoms of bronchiectasis?

  The most common symptom present in patients with bronchiectasis is a cough that occurs like clockwork, with great regularity, every day.

  Generally, patients with bronchiectasis cough up large quantities of phlegm. In most cases, phlegm consists of green or yellow pus. The pus gets produced in the enlarged (dilated) bronchial tubes, which remain chronically infected. The pus so produced can only be removed by coughing. As a result, it is not uncommon for a patient to cough up more than a cup of phlegm during the course of a day.

  Additionally, the phlegm may have a bad/strong odor, which can often be a cause of great social embarrassment.

  As the infection develops, blood may be present in the cough. However, in most cases, the bleeding is generally minor. Excessive bleeding, however, is sually considered to be an emergency.

  In spite of the presense of chronic infection within the dialted bronchial tubes, a great majority of the patients report a general feeling of well-being, without any episodes of recurrent fever or pain. However, they remain considerably more susceptible to worsening of infection, which if left untreated, can lead to pneumonia.

• Bronchiectasis Treatment

  The treatment of bronchiectasis is usually designed to allow patients to live as normal a life as possible. Therefore, the treatment is usually aimed at controlling infections and bronchial secretions, relieving airway obstruction, and preventing additional complications.

  Regular, daily drainage of bronchial secretions is considered to be a routine part of treatment. A respiratory therapist can teach postural drainage and effective coughing exercises to patients and their families. Patients with bronchiectasis must learn to position themselves so as to allow drainage of lungs by gravity. This is usually done by hanging patient’s head over the side of the bed, with the affected part of the lung(s) kept in an elevated position. In some cases, patients may need to do this several times during the course of a day. Sometimes, clapping the chest helps drain the mucus.

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

  Surgical lung resection may be indicated for the patients that do not respond to therapy or have massive bleeding. Especially if the patient has recurrent pneumonia or excessive blood in cough, and if the bronchiectasis is found to be highly localized, the affected parts can be successfully removed surgically. If the damage is widespread, however, surgery is usually not advisable.

• Bronchiectasis Expectations (Prognosis)

  With timely and regular treatment, most patients can lead normal lives without major disability.

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