Bronchiectasis is a disease in which there is permanent enlargement of parts of the airways of the lung.  Symptoms typically include a chronic cough with mucus production.  Other symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and chest pain.  Wheezing and nail clubbing may also occur.  Those with the disease often get frequent lung infections.

Bronchiectasis may result from a number of infective and acquired causes, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, immune system problems, and cystic fibrosis.  Cystic fibrosis eventually results in severe bronchiectasis in nearly all cases.  The disease is a breakdown of the airways due to an excessive inflammatory response.  Involved airways (bronchi) become enlarged and thus less able to clear secretions.  These secretions increase the amount of bacteria in the lungs, result in airway blockage and further breakdown of the airways.

It is classified as an obstructive lung disease, along with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.  The diagnosis is suspected based on a person’s symptoms and confirmed using computed tomography.  Cultures of the mucus produced may be useful to determine treatment in those who have acute worsening and at least once a year.

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