Bronchiectasis

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Lungs

Respiratory system

Acquired bronchiectasis; Congenital bronchiectasis

Symptoms often develop gradually, and may occur months or years after the event that causes the bronchiectasis.

They may include:

• 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

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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.

Tests may include:

• Aspergillosis precipitin test (to check for signs of the aspergillosis fungus)
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin blood test
• Chest x-ray
• Chest CT
• Sputum culture
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Genetic testing, including sweat test for cystic fibrosis
• PPD skin test to check for a prior tuberculosis infection
• Serum immunoglobulin electrophoresis

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).