General Information About Bronchiectasis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a disease involving the abnormal and permanent widening (sacculation) of the bronchi as a result of the destruction of the muscle and elastic tissues in the airway walls.
Severe lung infections contracted during childhood (measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis), genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, or immune system deficiencies are the most common factors that cause structural deterioration of the bronchi.
The widened bronchi lose their ability to sweep phlegm (mucus) upwards and out of the lungs. The accumulated phlegm creates a perfect breeding ground for microbes, putting the lung into a continuous cycle of infection.
A chronic, copious, and foul-smelling productive cough lasting for months is the most typical finding. This is accompanied by frequently recurring febrile respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath, fatigue, and sometimes blood-tinged sputum.
A chest X-ray is taken after evaluating the patient's complaints. However, the gold standard test that definitively proves the widening of the bronchi (ring or tram-track appearance) is a High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of the lungs.
Widened bronchi cannot return to their original state. The goal of treatment is to improve the patient's quality of life. The lungs are cleared with expectorants and special breathing exercises; antibiotics are used during exacerbations. In cases of localized damage, the affected lung lobe can be surgically removed.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
