The term “bronchiectasis” refers to a respiratory condition affecting the bronchi that is characterized by the presence of dilatations and degeneration of bronchial tissue, associated with the presence of “mucus plugs.”
Bronchial changes can be diffuse or localized to a specific area.
In many cases, bronchiectasis sets in as an outcome of a previous pathology (not always easy to identify) and can lead to secondary complications, especially infectious ones as excess mucus and poor tissue aeration promotes bacterial colonization by pathogenic strains.
These new infections and associated inflammation further damage the bronchi and can trigger a vicious cycle with potentially very serious outcomes (up to respiratory failure conditions) if not interrupted early with appropriate therapies.
Bronchiectasis can develop in any person at any time of life: often, the first damage to the bronchi is established at a young age, although symptoms may appear years late. For reasons not known, women tend to be affected more than men.
