Bronchiectasis

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lungs Respiratory system

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

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:

• A chest X-ray
• A 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

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