What is Bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition in which some airways become permanently widened and damaged. These airways cannot clear mucus effectively, so mucus builds up and becomes prone to infection.
With a structured plan — including daily airway clearance and early treatment of flare-ups — many people with bronchiectasis can reduce infections and maintain lung function.
Common symptoms
- Daily cough with large amounts of phlegm
- Recurrent chest infections
- Breathlessness and wheeze
- Fatigue
- Coughing up blood in some cases
Possible causes & risk factors
- Previous severe infections, including tuberculosis and pneumonia
- Immune deficiencies
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
- Airway blockage by a foreign body or tumour
- Ciliary disorders and cystic fibrosis
- Connective tissue diseases
When should you consult a pulmonologist?
- A cough producing phlegm on most days
- Two or more chest infections a year
- Coughing up blood
Diagnostic investigations
Your evaluation is tailored to your symptoms and history. It may include:
- High-resolution CT (HRCT) scan of the chest
- Sputum culture, including tests for TB and non-tuberculous mycobacteria
- Spirometry
- Blood tests for underlying causes (such as ABPA or immune deficiency)
- Bronchoscopy and BAL in selected patients
Available treatment approaches
- Daily airway clearance techniques and physiotherapy
- Prompt, culture-guided antibiotic treatment of flare-ups
- Long-term preventive therapy in patients with frequent exacerbations
- Inhaled bronchodilators when there is associated airflow obstruction
- Treatment of the underlying cause
- Vaccinations and pulmonary rehabilitation
Treatment is individualised. The options above are general information; your doctor will recommend what is appropriate for you after assessment. Outcomes vary from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
No. Bronchiectasis is airway damage, which may be a consequence of past TB among other causes. It is not itself infectious, but infections within damaged airways need proper treatment.
