Bronchiectasis is a condition where the airways in your lungs are damaged and produce a lot of phlegm (mucus). It cannot usually be cured, but treatment can help manage it.

Symptoms of bronchiectasis

The main symptoms of bronchiectasis are:

• a cough that does not go away
• coughing up a lot of phlegm (mucus) – the phlegm may be clear, white, yellow or green
• getting frequent chest infections, where your symptoms get worse for a few days or weeks and you may feel generally unwell

Other symptoms can include:

• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• noises when you breathe, such as crackling in your lungs, snoring sounds or high-pitched squeaks
• feeling very tired
• coughing up blood
• chest pain

How bronchiectasis is diagnosed

If you have symptoms of bronchiectasis a GP will listen to your chest.

They may arrange some tests such as:

• testing a sample of your phlegm (mucus) to check for an infection
• a chest X-ray
• a test where you breathe into a machine to check how well your lungs are working (spirometry test)
• blood tests

If these tests show you could have bronchiectasis, you'll be referred to a specialist for more tests such as a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis.

You may also need other tests to find the cause.

Medicines for bronchiectasis

You'll usually be asked to give your doctor a sample of phlegm when you're unwell or if your symptoms change. The sample will be checked for a chest infection, and if you have one you'll need to take antibiotics.

You may be given antibiotics to keep at home (a rescue pack) for when you get symptoms of a chest infection. Your care team will give you instructions on when to take them.

If you get more than 3 chest infections a year, a specialist may recommend you take antibiotics long term to help prevent them.

You may also be offered other medicines, such as inhalers to help your breathing.

Other treatments

If you have severe symptoms and medicines have not helped, you may be offered other treatments such as:

• breathing in oxygen through a mask or tube (oxygen therapy)
• surgery to treat damage to your lungs
• a lung transplant