Bronchiectasis

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Lungs

Respiratory system

Acquired bronchiectasis; Congenital bronchiectasis

• 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

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:

• Chest x-ray
• Chest CT
• Sputum culture
• CBC
• Sweat test or other cystic fibrosis testing
• Serum Immunoglobulin analysis
• Serum precipitins (testing for antibodies to the fungus aspergillus)
• PPD (purified protein derivative) skin test for prior TB infection

Review Date: 11/13/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.