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Bronchiectasis is a relatively rare condition that causes enlargement of the bronchial tubes and destruction of the cilia which lines the bronchial tubes. When cilia are destroyed, the airways and lungs cannot free themselves of dust, bacteria, and excess mucus. When this material gathers, infection develops.
In addition, the enlargement of the bronchial tubes causes the formation of pockets where infection may gather. Once infection develops, it is difficult to remove.
In addition, the enlargement of the bronchial tubes causes the formation of pockets where infection may gather. Once infection develops, it is difficult to remove.

Bronchiectasis is caused by various types of infections which damage and weaken the bronchial walls and interfere with the action of the cilia.An obstruction of some sort that causes pressure on the bronchial tubes from the outside or blocks them from the inside may also cause bronchiectasis

There are several known causes including:
?Underlying genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis, where the mucus in the bronchial tubes is too thick, and primary ciliary dyskinesia, where the cilia lining the bronchial tubes do not beat properly.
?Mechanical obstruction of the bronchial tubes by inhaled foreign bodies, for example, peanuts.
?Healing of the tubes resulting in puckering and scarring, causing obstruction.
?Inhaling stomach acid which has been regurgitated back into the gullet.
?Too little immunity to infection, for example after infantile pneumonia from whooping cough or measles, or lack of antibodies which occasionally occurs after a virus infection in adult life.

The symptoms include:
?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

Tests may include:
?A chest X-ray and 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.

Complications include:
?Cor pulmonale
?Recurrent pneumonia
?Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)