Bronchiectasis in Children
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Bronchiectasis in Children
FeverChest pain that gets worse when he or she takes a breathTrouble breathing or breathing that sounds like whistling (wheezing) A child with bronchiectasis might also: пїЅ пїЅ
Will my child need tests? " пїЅ Maybe. The doctor or nurse will do an exam and learn about your childs symptoms. Your child might have some or all of these tests: пїЅ пїЅ
How is bronchiectasis in children treated? " пїЅ Treatments can include: пїЅ пїЅ
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ
пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
- Get tired or short of breath during exercise or play
- Have skin or lips that look blue
- Cough up blood " пїЅ This is not common, but it does happen in a few children with bronchiectasis.
- Sinus infections " пїЅ The sinuses are hollow areas in the bones of the face (figure 3). Sinus infections can cause a stuffy nose, pain in the face, and yellow or green mucus from the nose.
- Has a cough for more than 2 weeks.
- Gets a cough after choking on food or another object, even if it happened several days or weeks ago.
- Coughs up thick, sticky mucus or blood.
- Has trouble breathing (figure 4).
- A chest X-ray
- A CT scan of the chest " пїЅ A CT scan is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of the body.
- A "sweat test " пїЅ " пїЅ During this test, a doctor collects a small amount of sweat from a person's arm and measures the amount of salt in it. This is a test for cystic fibrosis.
- Blood tests " пїЅ To look for cystic fibrosis, problems with the body's infection-fighting system (called the "immune system " пїЅ), and other problems.
- A test called a "bronchoscopy " пїЅ " пїЅ During this test, a doctor uses a thin tube (called a "bronchoscope " пїЅ) to look inside the lungs. It can help find an object stuck in the airway or take samples of mucus from the lungs.
- Tests to learn how well your child's lungs are working " пїЅ These tests involve breathing hard into a tube.
- Tests to check for swallowing problems
- Removal of anything stuck in the airway
- Medicines " пїЅ These can include:Antibiotic medicines to help treat or prevent infectionsMedicines to thin out mucus or moisten the airways (for children with cystic fibrosis)Medicines to help open up the airways or reduce inflammation
- Chest physiotherapy " пїЅ This involves loosening the mucus in the lungs so your child can cough it up more easily. Your child's doctor or nurse can show you different ways to do this.
- Surgery " пїЅ In some cases, removing part of a lung will help stop symptoms or infections.
- A lung transplant " пїЅ This is surgery in which a doctor replaces a person's diseased lungs with healthy lungs. A lung transplant is done only in people who have severe disease and meet certain conditions.
- Antibiotic medicines to help treat or prevent infections
- Medicines to thin out mucus or moisten the airways (for children with cystic fibrosis)
- Medicines to help open up the airways or reduce inflammation
- Keep your home and car smoke-free and keep your child away from smoke in other places.
- Make sure your child gets all his or her vaccines, including the pneumonia vaccine and the flu vaccine.
- Help your child get the nutrients he or she needs. This can help lungs work better.
- Get treatment right away if your child gets an infection. This can help prevent worse problems.
Normal lungs
The lungs sit in the chest, inside the ribcage. They are covered with a thin membrane called the "pleura. " пїЅ The windpipe (or trachea) branches into two smaller airways called the left and right "bronchus. " пїЅ The space between the lungs is called the "mediastinum. " пїЅ Lymph nodes are located within and around the lungs and mediastinum.
Graphic 67527 Version 10.0
Normal lungs
The lungs sit in the chest, inside the ribcage. They are covered with a thin membrane called the "pleura. " пїЅ The windpipe (or trachea) branches into two smaller airways called the left and right "bronchus. " пїЅ The space between the lungs is called the "mediastinum. " пїЅ Lymph nodes are located within and around the lungs and mediastinum.
Graphic 67527 Version 10.0
Organs most affected by cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that some children are born with. It causes thick mucus and other fluids to build up and clog different parts of the body, including the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestine.
Graphic 74980 Version 1.0
Organs most affected by cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that some children are born with. It causes thick mucus and other fluids to build up and clog different parts of the body, including the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestine.
Graphic 74980 Version 1.0
Sinuses of the face
This drawing shows the sinuses of the face.
Graphic 75045 Version 5.0
Sinuses of the face
This drawing shows the sinuses of the face.
Graphic 75045 Version 5.0
Signs of severe trouble breathing (retractions)
When a child is having a lot of trouble breathing, the skin and muscles between the childs ribs or below the child's ribcage look like they are caving in.
Graphic 59786 Version 1.0
Signs of severe trouble breathing (retractions)
When a child is having a lot of trouble breathing, the skin and muscles between the child's ribs or below the child's ribcage look like they are caving in.
Graphic 59786 Version 1.0