Bronchiectasis
What is Bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis (pronounced bron-kee-ek'-tas- is) is a condition of the airways in the lungs. These airways (bronchial tubes) are tube-like structures that branch from the trachea into the right and left lungs. When a person has bronchiectasis the airways are permanently and abnormally widened (dilated) and inflamed. These damaged airways can no longer clear mucus and bacteria from the lung well. This causes a cough, sputum production and shortness of breath to occur more often.
Bronchiectasis is caused by one or more influenza) infectious or inflammatory insults to the lungs. Bacterial infections (Pseudomonas People with bronchiectasis are more likely to aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, get lung infections. Each lung infection can Klebsiella) make the bronchiectasis worse. Therefore, Mycobacterial infections (tuberculosis early diagnosis and treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex) bronchiectasis is very important. Fungal infections (histoplasmosis)
How Can You Develop Bronchiectasis? Immune Diseases There are many causes of bronchiectasis — People with immune deficiencies such as antibody some are acquired and others you may be deficiencies are more likely to have born with (congenital). The following is a list of repeated lung infections which can damage the the most important and/or common causes. airways and cause bronchiectasis.
Aspiration Infections Chronic pulmonary aspiration occurs when a person Infections can damage the airways and cause inhales oral or stomach material into his/her lungs. If bronchiectasis. They may also be a severe or recurrent, aspiration can lead to consequence which in turn can lead to inflammation of the airways and causes worsening bronchiectaisis. bronchiectasis. The aspiration can occur from: Impaired ability to swallow (oropharyngeal Examples include: dysphagia) which may cause saliva or Viral infections (measles, adenovirus, food to enter the lung. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
which occurs when the valve of smooth Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease muscle between the esophagus and the (COPD) and allergic bronchopulmonary stomach does not function properly. This aspergillosis are diseases that can cause allows contents (acid and non-acid) to flow obstruction of the airways. back up into the esophagus. The stomach contents may enter the lungs and irritate What Happens in the Lungs with the airways. Some signs and symptoms of Bronchiectasis? GERD include: heartburn or sour taste in First, inflammation occurs in the walls of the airways mouth, but many (possibly up to 30 from a number of causes just discussed. This percent) of people with GERD may have inflammation causes injury to the airways. The no symptoms (“silent” GERD). resulting loss of the normal defenses in the lungs leads to impaired drainage of the airways. This Autoimmune Diseases makes the airways susceptible to infections. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome and Repeated lung infections can worsen the damage to Wegener’s granulomatosis are examples of the airway walls. rheumatologic, autoimmune or connective tissue diseases that can cause bronchiectasis. What are the Symptoms? Symptoms of bronchiectasis include a cough. The Genetic Diseases cough may be productive of mucus. With infections Cystic fibrosis causes impaired drainage of the mucus may be discolored, foul-smelling and may mucus and bacteria from the airways. This contain blood (hemoptysis). Shortness of breath, leads to recurrent lung infection and wheezing, weight loss and fatigue can also occur. bronchiectasis. Classic cystic fibrosis is Some people with bronchiectasis also have chronic obvious at birth, but there are forms of sinusitis. This requires further evaluation since cystic fibrosis that may not be recognized bronchiectasis and sinusitis may be due to the same until adulthood. underlying disease.