bronchiectasis

Has your son been X-rayed as bronchiectsis should show. I have had it since about the age of two. Spent years being pummelled on the back by my parents to help bring up the mucus. Am now in my seventies and still coughing.

Hi there Sir1982,

I was dignosed by bronchogram when I was 3. I am now 66 and have led a very full life. Today a ct scan is the only way to diagnose bronchiectasis. Your son needs a paediatric chest consultant to do this. If it is bronch you will then need to embark on a lifelong programme of self physiotherapy which your son can easily learn. This is essential to empty the lungs of fluid to prevent it becoming infected and causing frequent exacerbations. You and your son will also need to learn the signs that an exacerbation is starting up so that antibiotics can be started. The good news is that lots of playing, fresh air and a busy life ( in other words, just like other children) is good for the management of bronch.

Unfortunately most GPs have very little knowledge of bronchiectasis and there is very much a misconception that it is a condition only of the elderly. As many on here will tell you, it most definitely is not. So insist on that referral. To date, your GP has proved inefectual in their treatment of your son and needs the support and advice of a specialised consultant.

Try not to worry too much. The worst part is getting through the fog and the system to a diagnosis. There is a very good life with bronchiectasis and we will be happy to give you help based on our experience.

Has he been checked out by a specialist in paediatric respiratory medicine? If not, maybe need to exclude things like Cystic Fibrosis (with a sweat test). Even now this is tested for at birth these days some cases still get missed. X

Has your son had whooping cough and/or German measles as a baby. This is usually what causes Bronchiectasis. Also only a CT scan can confirm the condition. Xrays do not penetrate deep enough into the lung. I had several chest xrays before I insisted on a scan.

A very warm welcome to you.

Quite a few of us on here have experience of non bronchiectasis from childhood/babyhood. The symptoms your dear little son has are present in bronchiectasis but that is not to say your son does have broncheictasis. As has been said only a ct scan can diagnose bronch. Bronch can indeed be caused by infections eg whooping cough, measles but there are also genetic causes eg cystic fibrosis, PCD.

I agree with others you need to ask your GP to refer you to a paediatric respiratory consultant to assess the cause of your son's frequent infections, if only to have a baseline assessment.

Good luck with your little ones assessment. Let us know how you get on.

cx

Thanks for your replies everyone, would the symptoms of bronchiectasis be there all the time? My son has periods when he's bad which normally ends in a chest infection and then he has times when he's ok. Thanks for sharing your experiences x

The above replies are from well-experienced sufferers. Can't add any more to that - they have been brilliant for me in the past. As a matter of interest I have heard that children can develop bronchiectasis as a result of putting a pea up their nose! Also, I have a relative who had one lung removed at the age of 4 because they didn't know how to deal with it in those days . This was in the Welsh valleys so coal dust may have been a contributory factor. Good luck with your little one. As you can see from above, there are plenty of sufferers who have led long lives with it. Mucus clearing and exercise are essential.