Bronchiectasis is what?

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 27, 2024

00:00

00:00

The basic cause of bronchiectasis is due to infection of the bronchi and lung tissue, as well as bronchial blockage. Infections can cause blockages, and blockages can also lead to infections. The two influence each other, promoting the occurrence and development of bronchiectasis. This results in damage to the bronchial walls and leads to a large amount of purulent sputum, mainly due to an increase in secretions. Additionally, chronic infection or fibrosis of the lung tissue can also lead to bronchial dilation, causing the bronchial walls to dilate and become congested.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Zou Zhong Lan

Pulmonology

1min 6sec

home-news-image

How is bronchiectasis treated?

The treatment of bronchiectasis mainly includes medical treatment and surgical treatment. Medical treatment primarily aims to control infection and promote the drainage of sputum. Antibiotics are crucial for controlling infections, initially based on empirical therapy. Adjustments can be made accordingly if results from sputum culture and drug sensitivity tests are available. Secondly, to promote sputum drainage, we can use postural drainage or mechanical vibration to expel sputum. Expectorant medications such as ambroxol and bromhexine, or nebulized inhalation therapy may also be utilized. Thirdly, bronchodilators can be used to relieve asthma symptoms and ease the patient's discomfort. If the patient has hemoptysis, hemostatic treatment should be provided. Surgical treatment is primarily considered for patients with localized bronchiectasis and when medical treatment is ineffective, in which case surgical resection may be considered.

home-news-image

Written by Yang Feng

Pulmonology

46sec

home-news-image

Can bronchiectasis be treated with nebulization?

Patients with bronchiectasis can undergo nebulized inhalation, and nebulized inhalation has a very good therapeutic effect for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Commonly used nebulized medications include budesonide suspension and terbutaline nebulizer solution, among others. These medications work to dilate the bronchi and relieve airway spasms. For patients with excessive phlegm, these treatments can promote expectoration. They are also very effective for patients with bronchiectasis-caused breathing difficulties. Furthermore, there is now literature proving that inhaling budesonide suspension has a good anti-inflammatory effect on lower respiratory tract infections and helps in the absorption of inflammation.

home-news-image

Written by Yang Feng

Pulmonology

31sec

home-news-image

Is bronchiectasis easy to treat?

Firstly, bronchiectasis is incurable, but its treatability cannot be judged solely by whether it can be cured or not. Some bronchiectasis patients have no clinical symptoms, and such patients do not need treatment. They only need regular check-ups and to maintain proper lifestyle habits. However, for patients who experience frequent disease attacks, strict prevention is necessary to avoid triggers such as infections and fatigue. Using sensitive medications during disease flare-ups can also lead to improvement.

home-news-image

Written by Yuan Qing

Pulmonology

1min 7sec

home-news-image

Does bronchiectasis cause nausea?

Bronchiectasis generally does not present with symptoms of nausea. Bronchiectasis primarily occurs when the body is infected with particular pathogenic microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, atypical mycobacteria, or from childhood infections like measles or whooping cough that damage the cartilage of the trachea, causing the tracheal cartilage to fail in maintaining the normal shape of the trachea. Consequently, the trachea can become dilated due to the pulling by the surrounding lung tissue. Once diagnosed with bronchiectasis, the main symptoms displayed are coughing, coughing up phlegm, and some patients may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. Generally, it does not cause nausea. However, severe coughing or a significant amount of difficult-to-expel phlegm can lead to concurrent symptoms of nausea, but these are not directly caused by the disease itself, but rather by its complications. Therefore, appropriate treatment can significantly alleviate these symptoms.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 3sec

home-news-image

Symptoms of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis exhibits many symptoms, but the most common are chronic cough and sputum production. The amount of sputum in bronchiectasis can vary greatly from person to person, and to some extent, it can reflect the severity of the condition. Some patients may have significant coughing and sputum production, with sputum amounts reaching over one hundred milliliters per day. In others, the condition may be more stable, with only a few milliliters of sputum per day. Additionally, patients with bronchiectasis may experience hemoptysis, which often recurs and can manifest as blood-streaked sputum, minor bleeding, or sudden severe bleeding. Significant bleeding can be particularly dangerous, potentially leading to death within minutes. Bronchiectasis can also cause recurrent lung infections and chronic long-term infection, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, and other symptoms.