Talsical for Bronchiectasis Treatment

Bronchiectasis is a medical term used to describe destruction and widening of the large airways.
Quick Facts

• Damages the walls of the large airways, or bronchial tubes of the lungs
• Causes inflammation that destroys the smooth muscles that allow the bronchial tubes to be elastic and prevents secretions that are normally made by lung tissue to be cleared
• Bronchiectasis is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Also includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Characterized by an increased amount of sputum production
• Congenital bronchiectasis may occur due to a genetic defect such as occurs in cystic fibrosis
• Increases the risk of infections to spread directly into the airspaces of the lungs resulting in pneumonia.

Bronchiectasis Causes

• Recurrent infection
• Aspiration of foreign bodies or other materials
• Inhalation of toxic gases like ammonia
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Tuberculosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Kartagener syndrome
• Young's syndrome
• Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

Bronchiectasis Symptoms

• Bluish skin color
• Breath odor
• Chronic cough with large amounts of foul-smelling sputum
• Clubbing of fingers
• Coughing up blood
• Cough that gets worse when lying on one side
• Fatigue
• Paleness
• Shortness of breath that gets worse with exercise
• Weight loss
• Wheezing