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Lungs Respiratory system

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Bronchiectasis

Alternative Names: Acquired bronchiectasis; Congenital bronchiectasis Symptoms: Chronic cough with large amounts of foul-smelling sputum production Coughing up blood Cough worsened by lying on one side Shortness of breath worsened by exercise Weight loss Fatigue Clubbing of fingers may be present (abnormal amount of tissue in the fingernail beds) Wheezing Skin discoloration, bluish Paleness Breath odor Signs and tests: When listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear small clicking, bubbling, wheezing, rattling, or other sounds, usually in the lower lobes of the lungs. Text Continues Below Tests may include: A chest X-ray A chest CT A sputum culture A CBC, may reveal anemia and differential may show evidence of fungus infection A sweat test or other cystic fibrosis testing Serum Immunoglobulin analysis Serum precipitins (testing for antibodies to the fungus aspergillus) A PPD (purified protein derivative) skin test for prior TB infection

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