Bronchiectases

Summary

What is it?
Care
Advice for parents
Research
Our specialists
bronchectasie

What is it?

Bronchiectases are enlargements of the airways due to an infection and chronic inflammation.

The most common causes are cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, reduced immunity, inhalation of a foreign body, a severe lung infection or repeated respiratory infections.   The symptoms of patients with bronchiectasis are a persistent loose cough and the daily coughing up of phlegm or sputum. An early diagnosis is important followed by treatment at an expert centre. 

Care

The diagnosis is based on a complete clinical examination, thorough questioning and imaging of the thorax, preferably with a scanner. Other additional examinations such as a bronchoscopy, a sweat test, a blood test or respiratory function test are important for determining the cause so as to prescribe the most appropriate treatment. All these examinations can be carried out at the Children’s Hospital. 

Respiratory physiotherapy is automatically prescribed for patients with bronchiectases, possibly in association with an aerosol treatment to unblock their airways and improve the pulmonary function. Vaccination against flu and pneumococcus in particular is strongly recommended. Patients must also avoid any exposure to passive smoking. Long courses of antibiotics are also part of the treatment, especially at the time of diagnosis  or during infectious episodes when symptoms resume or worsen. Azythromycin is an antibiotic that also has an anti-inflammatory action and that can also be prescribed to control symptoms and improve the respiratory function.

Advice for parents

 If your child has a bronchiectasis it is important to:

  • Ensure your child takes the medicine as prescribed and attends regular respiratory physiotherapy sessions as recommended by your doctor.
  • Contact your doctor in case of respiratory infection or a worsening of symptoms so as to adapt the treatment accordingly . 
  • Create a healthy environment in the home: if you are smokers it is best to stop smoking or otherwise only smoke outside!
  • Make sure your child has a balanced diet, practices regular physical activity and gets enough sleep.
  • Avoid seasonal infections such as flu by being vaccinated
bronchectasie
bronchectasie
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Research

From the time of diagnosis and throughout follow-up, patients at the Children’s Hospital diagnosed with bronchiectasis undergo the most sophisticated respiratory function tests (LCI - Lung Clearance Index) to effectively evaluate lung functioning and adapt treatment accordingly.

A recent study we published showed the benefits of this technique:  Wael Alkoussa, Laurence Hanssens, Valerie Sputael, Frederico De Lucia, Christine Quentin. A Pilot Study of Lung Clearance Index as a Useful Outcome Marker in the Follow-Up of Pediatric Patients with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis? Children 2023, 10(5), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10050791.

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