Bronchiectasis

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.

What is bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis 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 bronchitis have similar symptoms, including mucus in your lungs and coughing. But bronchiectasis causes permanent widening of your airways and bronchitis is a temporary infection that doesn’t cause lasting damage.

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 underlying condition that affects your lungs or immune system. Without an underlying condition, your risk increases as you get older.

How does bronchiectasis affect my body?

The tubes (airways or bronchi) going into your lungs have defenses to protect you from disease. Annoying as it can sometimes be, mucus is one of these defenses. When mucus can’t be coughed out, it causes lasting damage to your airways.

What diseases cause bronchiectasis?

Some of the specific causes of the initial damage (“insult”) which starts the cycle of bronchiectasis include: Cystic fibrosis, Mycobacterial infections, like MAC infections or tuberculosis (TB), Autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lupus (SLE), Foreign bodies, tumors or lymph nodes that block airways and prevent mucus clearance, Conditions that decrease immunity and increase risk of infections (like HIV and hypogammaglobulinemia), Primary ciliary dyskinesia, Organ transplant.

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