Who is at Risk of Bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis may be caused due to an infection or any other lung disease condition that injures the walls of the airways or causes accumulation of mucus in the airways.

Who is at Risk of Bronchiectasis

People with a lung disorder which causes lung damage or predisposes to lung infections are at higher risk of developing bronchiectasis. Some of the conditions which increase the risk of bronchiectasis are:

• Childhood infections such as measles, whooping cough, and other infections such as pneumonia, and TB (tuberculosis).
• Retained inhaled foreign object in the airways.
• Various immunodeficiency disorders such as common variable immunodeficiency including HIV and AIDS.
• Cystic fibrosis (a common cause of bronchiectasis in the developed countries such as the United States of America).
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis which is caused due to allergic reaction to a fungus called aspergillus can cause swelling in the airways, repeated infection, accumulation of mucus in the airways and finally bronchiectasis.
• Disorders of ciliary function such as primary ciliary dyskinesia increase the risk of developing bronchiectasis. Cilia are small, hair-like structures in the airways which help to clear the mucus from the airways.

Read more articles on Bronchiectasis Causes and Risks