Bronchiectasis

Abstract

Bronchiectasis is defined as an irreversible dilatation and thickening of the airways, leading to chronic cough, sputum production, recurrent infections and bacterial colonisation. It is a common condition, thought to affect 1 in 1000 individuals. Due to the wide range of potential differential diagnoses for the patient presenting with chronic cough, bronchiectasis is not always considered by GPs. As such, this article aims to outline the causes (and therefore the patients at risk), presentation, investigation and community treatment of bronchiectasis, as well as how to recognise and manage the patient with an acute exacerbation presenting in primary care. It will also briefly describe complications and prognosis of bronchiectasis, in order that communication with the patient with this chronic condition can be optimised. The majority of this article will focus on the management of bronchiectasis in adults.