Bronchiectasis – children | Pūkahukahu hauā

On this page, you can find the following information:

• What is bronchiectasis?
• What causes bronchiectasis?
• How long does bronchiectasis last?
• Who gets bronchiectasis in New Zealand?
• What are the signs and symptoms of bronchiectasis?
• When should I seek help for my child with bronchiectasis?
• What tests might my child with bronchiectasis need?
• What is the treatment for bronchiectasis?
• How can I keep my child with bronchiectasis well?
• What health appointments will my child with bronchiectasis need?
• Where can I go for support and more information about bronchiectasis?

This page focuses on bronchiectasis in children. For information about adults with bronchiectasis, see bronchiectasis in adults.

Key points

1. Bronchiectasis (Bx) is a type of scarring in the lungs.
2. Mucus (phlegm or sputum) can collect in the scarred area.
3. Infections occur in this mucus.
4. The main symptoms of Bx are a wet sounding cough lasting for weeks or recurring frequently, and repeated chest infections once your child has Bx, they usually have it for life.
5. Early recognition and treatment can improve the scarring.
6. Good care can help your child to stay well with Bx.

What is bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis (Bx) is a chest disease – the airways in the lungs have become damaged and scarred.

The airways (or breathing tubes) become widened and mucus can be trapped in pockets within the airway. Having extra mucus in the airways means bacteria and viruses can grow quickly and cause new or long-lasting (chronic) infection.

These infections cause damage and more scarring to the airways and lungs. Once this has happened, the scarring is usually lifelong. But, with good treatment, there can be some improvement and further damage prevented. Good treatment is especially important in young children because their lungs are still growing.

Image credit: 123rf

You can't catch Bx or give Bx to anyone.

What causes bronchiectasis?

Common causes

Most children get Bx after having a very bad chest infection or repeated chest infections. Bx usually develops after:

• a severe bronchiolitis or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation
• chest infections which need repeated antibiotic treatment at home
• a wet sounding cough which lasts for weeks or recurs frequently.

Less common causes

Problems with fighting off infection. Some children cannot fight infection very well because they are born with a problem in their infection-fighting (immune) system.
Medications. Some medications (such as oral steroids) cause difficulty in fighting off infection.
Objects stuck in the airway. If a child breathes in a nut or a piece of a toy and this gets stuck in the airway, it can cause a blockage that can lead to scarring.
Food or liquid going into the lungs (aspiration). Children who sometimes cough or choke when feeding have problems controlling their swallow. Food can end up in their lungs. This can also happen if food refluxes from the stomach and ends up going into the lungs. Over time this can cause Bx.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia. In this condition, the tiny mucus-clearing hairs (cilia) in the lungs are not working properly.

How long does bronchiectasis last?

Once a person has Bx, they usually have it for life. Good treatment stops it getting worse and in very young children, can reverse some of the disease.

Who gets bronchiectasis in New Zealand?

• 1 in 3,000 children gets Bx.
• There is 1 new case of Bx in a New Zealand child every week.

What are the signs and symptoms of bronchiectasis?

Children with Bx feel well most of the time.

Wet-sounding cough

A wet-sounding cough is the main symptom. This usually lasts for weeks. Extra mucus (phlegm or sputum) in the airways is the cause. This cough can get worse during infections, first thing in the morning and during exercise. Remember though that playing sport is helpful for keeping well.

When should I seek help for my child with bronchiectasis?

When children with Bx become unwell, they cough more and the mucus can change colour from clear to yellow or dark green. The mucus can sometimes be smelly. They may lose their appetite and feel tired.

When to see a doctor

If your child has Bx, you should take them to see your family doctor when:

• they have a bad cold with a runny green nose
• they are coughing more than normal
• their cough becomes more wet sounding
• they have more mucus which is darker in colour and/or thicker and/or smells
• they are breathing faster than normal
• they have a fever
• they have pain in their chest
• they are tired and not eating or drinking as well as normal.

When to see a doctor urgently

Your child is very sick and needs to see a doctor urgently if they:

• have a high fever which doesn't go down with paracetamol
• get suddenly more unwell
• cough up blood.

When to dial 111

Dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) for urgent medical help if your child:

• is having difficulty talking because they are so short of breath
• has blue lips or tongue
• is coughing up a large amount of blood.

What tests might my child with bronchiectasis need?

Chest x-ray

A chest x-ray is usually the first investigation but does not always show Bx damage very well. Your child will probably also need a chest CT scan.

CT scan

Chest CT scans show Bx damage well.

Sputum culture

Your health professional will collect some mucus from your child. They will test this for bacteria or viruses. If they find bacteria, they will use the results to give the right antibiotic to your child.

Blood tests

Your child will have some blood tests to show that they can fight off infection.

Bronchoscopy

A doctor may use a special telescope (bronchoscope) to look into the lungs. This lets the doctor see the condition of the airways and take a sample of mucus.

Lung function test

Your child will breathe into a machine to measure how their lungs are working. It usually takes about 15 minutes.

Other tests

Sometimes your child may need other tests such as a sweat test (to look for cystic fibrosis).

What is the treatment for bronchiectasis?

1. Chest physiotherapy

Your child will need chest physiotherapy once or twice a day. There are different ways to do chest physiotherapy – either with breathing and percussion or by using a physiotherapy breathing device (PEP, acapella, bubble). This is to clear the extra mucus from your child's lungs to keep your child well. The physiotherapist will show you the best method to use with your child. The type of chest physiotherapy changes with age.

2. Exercise and sport

Exercise will help your child – it doesn't matter if they cough. Exercise or playing sport 3 to 4 times a week is helpful to clear the mucus and to develop your child's lungs. Any type of exercise is good, especially if it makes your child take deep breaths. It doesn't matter if your child coughs during exercise.

3. Antibiotics

Your child will need antibiotics if they start to get sick or if they are coughing more. Children with Bx need a longer course of antibiotics (10 to 14 days). Most often, you can give your child antibiotics at home. Sometimes, if your child is very unwell, they may need antibiotics in hospital.

4. Asthma treatment

Some children with Bx may benefit from inhalers because they also have asthma.

5. Bx action plan

Children and young people with Bx can have an action plan. You and your doctor or another member of your child's health team can discuss this so that it's right for your child. It lists your child's daily treatment and steps to take if your child becomes unwell.

How can I keep my child with bronchiectasis well?

• regular physiotherapy to keep lungs clear of mucus
• regular exercise and sport
• a healthy balanced diet
• keeping away from any tobacco smoke, especially in a house or car
• a flu vaccine every year
• regular hospital clinic and family doctor reviews.

What health appointments will my child with bronchiectasis need?

Outpatient clinics

Your child will have regular reviews with the hospital team. The team can include lots of different health professionals. How often the reviews happen depends on how well your child is. The review will include:

• height and weight measurement to check growth
• lung function test to measure how well the lungs are working
• a mucus sample to test for bacteria so your child can get the right antibiotics
• a cough suction if your child is young and can't cough up mucus
• a check on how you're going with physiotherapy techniques and whether they need changing.

Hospital admission

If a chest infection is severe or continues for a long time, your child will probably need to go to hospital for 10 to 14 days to have specialist treatment.

Antibiotics. Your child will have these directly into a vein through a 'drip'. Sometimes your child will have a special drip called a 'PICC line'. This is a long tube which lasts for longer than a 'drip' – it doesn't need replacing regularly.
Chest physiotherapy. A professional physiotherapist will do this twice a day. Sometimes, your child will have extra testing just like they do at outpatients appointments such as:

• lung function testing
• mucus sampling
• chest x-ray.

Where can I go for support and more information about bronchiectasis?

You can check The New Zealand Bronchiectasis Foundation website for:

• information for preschools and kindergartens 
• information for schools 
• information for families 
• a bronchiectasis action plan.