Bronchiectasis symptoms

Bronchiectasis is a condition where damage causes the tubes in your lungs (airways) to widen or develop pouches. It makes it hard to clear mucus out of your lungs and can cause frequent infections. Coughing a lot with pus and mucus is the main symptom of bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis can’t be cured but can be managed with treatment. Overview Bronchiectasis damages your airways, making it hard to clear mucus. What is bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis (“bronk-ee-EK-tuh-sis”) is a lung condition where your airways (tubes going into your lungs) get damaged and widen. Damaged airways can’t clear mucus like they're supposed to. Bacteria then grows in the mucus, causing more inflammation and damage to your lungs. This makes you cough a lot as your body tries to remove the infected mucus. What’s the difference between bronchiectasis and bronchitis? Bronchiectasis and What are the types of bronchiectasis? Healthcare providers categorize bronchiectasis based on what the damage to your airways looks like — cylindrical (or tubular), varicose or cystic. Cylindrical bronchiectasis is the most common and least serious form of bronchiectasis. Cystic bronchiectasis is the most severe form. Providers also categorize bronchiectasis as focal (in one area) or diffuse (in many areas throughout your lungs). Traction bronchiectasis happens when scarring in your lungs pulls your airways out of shape. Who does bronchiectasis affect? You’re at higher risk of bronchiectasis if you’re living with an und...

Bronchiectasis happens when irreversible damage affects the bronchi, which are part of the respiratory system. A person will have a persistent cough and frequent infections, and they will have difficulty removing sputum. Bronchiectasis can happen when a medical condition or an infection damages the lungs, leaving them unable to remove mucus. As mucus collects in the lungs, there is a risk of further infections and more damage. It can occur at any age, but it is most common among women aged over In the past, bronchiectasis often affected children. However, progress in hygiene standards, However, there are now concerns that it is reappearing. Between 2009 and 2013, bronchiectasis affected Bronchiectasis is a serious condition. Without treatment, it can lead to respiratory failure or Share on Pinterest A person with bronchiectasis will have a persistent cough. Bronchiectasis develops because of damage to the airways. It may take months or years for the signs and symptoms to appear. The most common symptoms • a persistent, daily cough • production of sputum • chest pain or discomfort • wheezing and shortness of breath • thickening of the skin under the fingernails and toenails, and nails that may curve downward • The lungs will crackle when a doctor listens to them through a stethoscope. The person may also have repeated chest infections. Doctors consider these an exacerbation. Each infection can cause the long-term symptoms to worsen. Later signs and symptoms may include: • b...

What is bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that usually results from an infection or other condition that injures the walls of the airways in your lungs. This injury is the beginning of a cycle in which your airways slowly lose their ability to clear out mucus, resulting in mucus buildup and an environment in which bacteria can grow. This leads to repeated serious lung infections that cause more damage to your airways. Over time, the airways become stretched out, flabby and scarred and unable to move air in and out. Bronchiectasis usually begins in childhood, but symptoms may not appear until months or even years after you have started having repeated lung infections. Symptoms The most common signs and symptoms are: • Daily cough, over months or years • Daily production of large amounts of mucus, or phlegm • Repeated lung infections • Shortness of breath • Wheezing • Chest pain Over time, more serious symptoms may develop, including: • Coughing up blood or bloody mucus • Weight loss • Fatigue • Sinus drainage Bronchiectasis can also lead to other serious health conditions, including collapsed lung, heart failure and brain abscess. Diagnosis There is no one test for bronchiectasis. Even in its later stages, the signs of the disease are similar to those of other conditions, so those conditions must be ruled out. The most commonly used tests to diagnose bronchiectasis are: • • • Blood tests to detect a disease or condition that can lead to bronchiectasis (They c...

Bronchorrhea largeamounts of thin mucus are coughed up from a person's lungs on a daily basis. This is not just a little drainageand can be an incredibly distressing symptom. This symptom can result in a persistent cough (to clear the fluid) and shortness of breath (due to obstruction of the airways by mucus). Serious respiratory emergencies can manifest with a number of sudden problems. Seek emergency care if you have: • Difficulty breathing • Severe or increased wheezing • Feeling as if you might lose consciousness or faint • • Coughing up blood (thin blood or more than 1/4 of a teaspoon) • Grunting noises when you breathe • There are several symptoms that, when they occur together, lead a healthcare provider to suspect bronchiectasis: • A chronic cough that brings up large amounts of thick, brown or blood-tinged, foul-smelling sputum • Shortness of breath • Wheezing • Chest pain • Clubbing of fingernails and toenails • Recurrent respiratory infections • Yes, certain subtypes of bronchiectasis may not cause symptoms that are as severe as those associated with, say, cystic fibrosis. One of these is cylindrical bronchiectasis, which causes relatively less damage to the walls of the bronchi. There is even a form of bronchiectasis called traction bronchiectasis that may not cause symptoms at all because the mucosa of the airways are not affected. • Bronchiectasis symptoms don't have triggers like allergies or asthma do. Instead, the damage to the airways is permanent and can...

Bronchiectasis is a condition where the There’s no cure for bronchiectasis, but it’s manageable. With treatment, you can usually live a typical life. However, flare-ups must be treated quickly to maintain oxygen flow to the rest of your body and prevent further lung damage. Read on for more information about bronchiectasis and its symptoms, causes, treatment, and more. Symptoms of bronchiectasis can take months or even years to develop. Some typical symptoms include: • • • atypical sounds or wheezing in your chest with breathing • • • coughing up large amounts of thick mucus every day • weight loss • • change in the structure of your fingernails and toenails, known as • frequent If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should contact a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment. The risk of developing bronchiectasis increases with age, though younger people can have it. Women Other health conditions that can put you at risk of having bronchiectasis include: • an atypically functioning immune system • repeated aspiration (breathing in) of things like food or drink • • • COPD • • lung infections, such as A chest This painless test creates precise pictures of your airways and other structures in your chest. A chest CT scan can show the extent and location of lung damage. After bronchiectasis is confirmed with the chest CT scan, your doctor will try to establish the cause of the bronchiectasis based on your history and physical exam findings. It’s important to fin...