Patients with bronchiectasis in whom investigation should be considered

People who require investigations for bronchiectasis

Investigation for bronchiectasis should be considered in the following patients:

• in children with
  • productive (sometimes non productive) chronic cough specially seen between viral colds
  • asthma who has poor response to therapy
  • unexplained haemoptysis
  • recurrent pneumonia
  • pertussis like illness which fails to resolve after 6 months
  • persistent and unexplained physical signs or chest radiographic abnormalities (1)
• in adults with
  • persistent productive cough specially with
    • daily production of large amount of very purulent sputum
    • presentation at a young age
    • symptoms for many years
    • sputum positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    • no history of smoking
  • unexplained haemoptysis and non productive cough
  • suspected COPD patients (alone or in addition to bronchiectasis) with no history of smoking, recurrent exacerbation or who is slow to recover from lower respiratory tract infection (1)

Reference:

• 1. Pasteur MC et al. British Thoracic Society guideline for non-CF bronchiectasis. Thorax. 2010;65 Suppl 1:i1-58