“Each branch is becoming more and smaller and ending with tiny cells where oxygen is absorbed by the body. In the event of bronchi, some of these respiratory or bronchi routes do not become smaller, but widen and weaken. Mucus and bacteria can then accumulate very easily in these large bronchi. This often causes symptoms such as coughing, mucus and pulmonary infections.“
Bonchonctasis is the third chronic pulmonary disease, after COPD and asthma. “”It is estimated that it affects between 0.1 and 1 % of the population, at all ages (a little more women), but it is probably an underestimation Comments Dr. Goeminne, Because the disease is often overlooked or confused with asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive broncho-pneumopathy).“
What are the causes of this pulmonary disease?
The possible causes of this disease are multiple, according to Dr. Goeminne. “”Bronchonctasis is the manifestation of chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. An accumulation of mucus and recurrent infections aggravate the situation. Mucoviscidosis is perhaps the best known cause, but certainly not the most frequent.“
The specialist explains that it can also be observed after very serious pulmonary infections, “Like tuberculosis, measles or darling. especially when these infections are contracted in childhood“.
Increase in darling cases in Wallonia
But there are other causes, such as a faulty immune system. “”There are also congenital diseases where, for example, pulmonary eyelashes no longer work. However, these eyelashes are necessary to eliminate mucus, bacteria and particles in the respiratory tract: if they do not work properly, mucus accumulates, causing inflammation and infections, and then bronchitasies.”
How to distinguish bronchi, COPD and asthma?
Typical symptoms are coughs, often colorful mucus expectorations (yellow, green, brown, bloody) and frequent respiratory tract infections. “”However, patients often also have shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss or chest pain“Adds Dr. Goeminne.
The specialist also says: “It is therefore difficult to distinguish from asthma and COPD, because many symptoms are similar and in addition, people who have the BPCO or the‘asthma can also present bronchi. In the presence of typical symptoms, a pulmonary scanner is the reference for the diagnosis.”
Research shows that it often takes many years before the patient receives a final diagnosis of bronchi. A very late diagnosis also means a precious waste of time to treat the disease.
No healing, but how to treat the sick?
How do you live with a bronchitasis? “”Some patients have few symptoms and can control the disease well with physiotherapy exercises. Other patients must combine long-term antibiotics, inhalers, aerosols, expectorants and/or anti-inflammatory drugs to stay stable“, Recognizes the pulmonologist.”This of course has a considerable impact on their daily life.”
Moreover, the treatment of bronchi is individualized: physiotherapy is included in the program to treat almost all patients. “”Healing is not yet possible, but we can often slow down, and sometimes even stop the process of inflammation, infection and accumulation of mucus. On the other hand, the bronchial lesions persist.”
However, very interesting drugs are currently the subject of research. “”Particularly positive results have been obtained with the inhibitor of the Dipeptidyl Petidase, also called Cathepsin C inhibitor. Some drugs are in the final research phase. This gives us additional weapons to be able to stop the disease.”
