Bronchiectasis

Key Points

Overview

Bronchiectasis is a condition where the air passages in your lungs become permanently damaged and wider than normal. This damage leads to a buildup of phlegm (mucus), making it harder for your lungs to clear themselves and increasing the risk of chest infections. This condition can be caused by severe past infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis, other lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, problems with your immune system, or even breathing in harmful substances. In many cases, the exact cause remains unknown. While bronchiectasis typically cannot be cured, treatment aims to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve your quality of life. A care team, including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, will work with you to develop a personalized management plan.

Signs and Symptoms

• Persistent cough that does not go away
• Coughing up a lot of phlegm (mucus)
• Frequent chest infections
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Noises when breathing, like crackling or squeaks
• Feeling very tired
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain

Things That Increase the Risk

• Previous severe lung infections (e.g., pneumonia, TB, measles)
• Existing lung conditions like asthma or COPD
• Weakened immune system
• Breathing in substances that damage the lungs
• Certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis

Diagnosis

• GP listens to your chest
• Phlegm sample test for infection
• Chest X-ray
• Spirometry test (to check lung function)
• Blood tests
• CT scan (to confirm diagnosis)
• Further tests to find the underlying cause

Treatment & Management

• Breathing techniques to clear phlegm
• Hand-held devices to help clear airways
• Nebuliser with salt solution to loosen phlegm
• Pulmonary rehabilitation for shortness of breath
• Antibiotics for chest infections
• Long-term antibiotics for frequent infections
• Inhalers to help with breathing
• Oxygen therapy for severe symptoms
• Surgery to treat lung damage (in severe cases)
• Lung transplant (in rare, severe cases)

Prevention

• Exercise regularly to help clear lungs
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet and weight
• Wash hands frequently to prevent infections
• Avoid contact with people who have infections
• Get recommended vaccinations (flu, pneumococcal, COVID-19)
• Stop smoking

Related Diseases

• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Crohn's Disease

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Bronchiectasis:

Surgical Options

Learn about surgical procedures available for Bronchiectasis: