Pulmonary bronchiectasis is a disease characterized by permanent dilation of the bronchi, which can be caused by recurrent bacterial infections or due to obstruction of the bronchi. This disease has no cure and is usually associated with other conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema and immobile eyelash syndrome, also known as Kartagener syndrome. Learn more about this syndrome.
The treatment of bronchiectasis is done with the use of medications to decrease symptoms and prevent disease progression and respiratory physiotherapy to facilitate breathing.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for bronchiectasis is done with the aim of improving symptoms and preventing disease progression, as this condition has no cure. Thus, the use of antibiotics may be recommended by the doctor, in order to treat infections, mucolytics, to facilitate the release of mucus, or bronchodilators, to facilitate breathing.
In addition, respiratory physiotherapy is very important to improve the person, because through physiotherapy it is possible to remove mucus from the lungs and increase gas exchange, facilitating breathing. Understand how respiratory physiotherapy works.
In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove part of the lung.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Bronchiectasis
Pulmonary bronchiectasis can be characterized by the following symptoms:
- Persistent cough with phlegm; Shortness of breath; Loss of appetite; General malaise; There may be coughing up blood; Chest pain; Difficulty in breathing; Bad breath; Fatigue.
To diagnose bronchiectasis, the doctor evaluates the symptoms and requests laboratory tests, such as sputum analysis, to identify a possible infection, and imaging tests, such as computed tomography and X-ray, in which the characteristics of the bronchi are observed, which they are usually increased in this condition.
In addition, the doctor may order a spirometry, which assesses the functioning of the lung by measuring the amount of air entering and leaving the lung, and a bronchoscopy, which is an image exam that allows you to view the airways, including larynx and trachea. Understand what it is for and how bronchoscopy is performed.
Main causes
Pulmonary bronchiectasis can be caused by several situations, such as:
- Severe or recurrent lung infections; Pneumonia; Immune system problems; Immobile cilia syndrome; Sjogren's syndrome; Pulmonary emphysema - understand what it is, symptoms and how to treat pulmonary emphysema; Bronchial asthma; Rheumatoid arthritis.
If the cause is not identified and treatment started, bronchiectasis can cause several complications, such as respiratory failure and pulmonary collapse (or atelectasis), for example, which is a respiratory complication characterized by the collapse of the pulmonary alveoli that prevents sufficient passage of air. Learn more about pulmonary atelectasis.
