How to check for bronchiectasis?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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How to check for bronchiectasis: generally, corresponding physical examinations and laboratory tests are used for diagnosis. Early physical examinations may not show positive signs. When the condition is severe or secondary bacterial infection occurs, fixed and persistent moist rales can be heard in the affected areas. Some patients may show signs of oxygen deficiency, such as clubbing and cyanosis. During acute infections, routine blood tests will show increased white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts. Sputum examination may reveal elastic fibers and pus cells. A chest X-ray can show thickened and disordered lung periphery, and typical lesions may appear as honeycomb-like curly shadows.

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Treatment of bronchiectasis

I personally believe that prevention is more important than treatment for bronchiectasis, because effectively preventing disease episodes is more beneficial to the patient than long-term medication. Treatment usually involves using sensitive antibiotics, and prolonged use of antibiotics can lead to multi-drug resistant bacteria or infections by specific groups. Therefore, prevention is key. Preventing disease episodes generally includes maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, avoiding staying up late, smoking, emotional agitation, and excessive fatigue. Vaccinations for influenza and pneumonia can also be received annually to reduce the risk of infection.

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Is bronchiectasis contagious?

Bronchiectasis is relatively common clinically and is caused by destruction of the bronchial wall due to various reasons, leading to abnormal dilation of the bronchi. Common symptoms include repeated coughing, coughing up phlegm, and even hemoptysis. It can be definitively stated that bronchiectasis itself is not contagious. Contact with a person with bronchiectasis will not result in contracting bronchiectasis. However, in some cases, care should be taken when coming into contact with bronchiectasis patients. For example, some cases of bronchiectasis are caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, known as tuberculous bronchiectasis. Since pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious, in this scenario, there is contagion. However, it is the tuberculosis that is contagious, not the bronchiectasis itself.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
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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.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
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What will happen if bronchiectasis worsens?

Bronchiectasis is classified as an infectious disease of the respiratory internal medicine, mainly caused by the invasion of various pyogenic bacteria into the respiratory tract, which usually leads to inflammation and fibrotic changes in the bronchi and surrounding lung tissue. Therefore, patients with bronchiectasis often exhibit clinical symptoms such as cough, expectoration, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and chest pain. It is crucial to provide timely treatments for such patients, including anti-infection measures, cough relief, expectoration, and hemostasis. If bronchiectasis is not effectively treated, it may lead to complications such as hypoxemia and severe bleeding. It is known that bronchiectasis does not lead to cancer due to local inflammation.

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Written by Yang Feng
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How is bronchiectasis cured?

Bronchiectasis is a type of chronic respiratory disease characterized primarily by recurrent coughing and sputum production. Once diagnosed with bronchiectasis, it is incurable. Prevention is crucial, and the main reason for recurrent episodes of bronchiectasis is infection. Therefore, preventing infection is paramount, including annual vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia to prevent infections. Additionally, it is important to avoid excessive fatigue and extreme emotions, as these can trigger episodes of bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis is caused by chronic suppurative inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchi and surrounding lung tissue, leading to the destruction of the muscular and elastic tissues in the bronchial walls, resulting in deformation and permanent dilation of the bronchi.