Key points
- Patients with bronchiectasis typically have chronic airway infection, punctuated by acute exacerbations and accompanied by progressive airflow obstruction.
- Bronchiectasis occurs in cystic fibrosis (CF), primary ciliary dyskinesia and primary immunodeficiencies and is also associated with systemic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Computed tomography is often necessary for confident diagnosis of bronchiectasis.
- Management of non-CF bronchiectasis is largely based on evidence extrapolated from studies in CF and COPD.
See the entire Bronchiectasis Chapter