A Simple Guide to Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage (Bronchiectasis), Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage (Bronchiectasis)

Bronchiectasis is a not common pulmonary disease
This results in non reversible dilation of the bronchi
Bronchiectasis is the result of a chronic infection and inflammation
The infective process results in the medium-sized bronchi distension

The bronchi become edematous and fill with excessive mucus secretions
The elastic muscles of the bronchial wall are weakened resulting in dilatation
Mucus accumulates and results in repeated, serious lung infections.
More damage occurs to the air tubes resulting in air obstruction.

Less oxygen is prevented from reaching the vital organs of the body
This may cause breathlessness, cough with sputum and heart disease
Chest x-ray showed raised bronchial fluid levels and tuberculosis
A chest CT scan enhances the signs and confirms the bronchiectasis

Early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis can prevent lung damage.
The best treatment is antibiotics for infections and postural drainage
Good hydration also helps keep airway mucus moist and slippery
Removal of airway mucus occurs once it is less thick and sticky.

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Bronchiectasis is a not very common respiratory illness which results in non reversible dilation of the bronchi.

This normally happens from chronic infection.

Bronchiectasis is the result of airway damage and enlarging of the proximal and medium-sized airways.

Congenital bronchiectasis is the disorder when it is present at birth.

Bronchiectasis is an abnormal destruction and widening of the bronchi due to recurrent inflammation or infection.

The patient may be born with bronchiectasis (congenital) or may acquire it later in life as a result of other lung disorders.

Acquired bronchiectasis happens later in life.

Bronchiectasis happens as a result of an infection or other disorder that injures the walls of the airways or prevents the airways from clearing mucus.

The airways produce a slimy substance termed mucus which helps to remove inhaled bacteria, dust, and other small particles.

The air tubes gradually lose their ability to remove the mucus in bronchiectasis.

Mucus accumulates and produces an environment in which bacteria can grow.

This leads to repeated, serious lung infections.

Every time the air tubes are infected, more injuries happen to the air tubes.

Over a period of time the bronchi lose their capability to move air in and out.

As a result inadequate oxygen is prevented from reaching the vital organs.

Bronchiectasis results in serious health disorders, such as atelectasis (lung collapse), respiratory failure, and heart failure.

Bronchiectasis can be unilateral or may involve many lobes of both lungs.

There is irregular distribution of bronchial dilation in the lungs.

Bronchiectasis starts in childhood and lead to more lung damage.

Manifestation of symptoms may not happen until months or even years after repeated lung infections.

The classic medical manifestations of bronchiectasis are cough and mucopurulent sputum production, often persisting months to years.

Less specific symptoms are dyspnea, hemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, wheezing, weakness, and weight loss.

High-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning is the gold standard for the diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

The purpose of treatment is regulating infections and bronchial secretions

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Specific questions and answers about Bronchiectasis
Chapter 8 Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Apr 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005794408

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

A

Simple

Guide

To

Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage

(Bronchiectasis),

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2022 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to Treat Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage)

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

My diagnosis and treatment capability has improved tremendously from my continued education.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Dilated Bronchi, Mucus Blockage (Bronchiectasis)

Bronchiectasis is a not common pulmonary disease

This results in non reversible dilation of the bronchi

Bronchiectasis is the result of a chronic infection and inflammation

The infective process results in the medium-sized bronchi distension

The bronchi become edematous and fill with excessive mucus secretions

The elastic muscles of the bronchial wall are weakened resulting in dilatation

Mucus accumulates and results in repeated, serious lung infections.

More damage occurs to the air tubes resulting in air obstruction.

Less oxygen is prevented from reaching the vital organs of the body

This may cause breathlessness, cough with sputum and heart disease

Chest x-ray showed raised bronchial fluid levels and tuberculosis

A chest CT scan enhances the signs and confirms the bronchiectasis

Early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis can prevent lung damage.

The best treatment is antibiotics for infections and postural drainage

Good hydration also helps keep airway mucus moist and slippery

Removal of airway mucus occurs once it is less thick and sticky.

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

I suffer from bronchiectasis, an obstructive lung disease, and have a little osteoporosis, too.

Judith Durham

What is Bronchiectasis?

Bronchiectasis is a not very common respiratory illness which results in non reversible dilation of the bronchi.

This normally happens from chronic infection.

Bronchiectasis is the result of airway damage and enlarging of the proximal and medium-sized airways.

Congenital bronchiectasis is the disorder when it is present at birth.

Bronchiectasis is an abnormal destruction and widening of the bronchi due to recurrent inflammation or infection.

The patient may be born with bronchiectasis (congenital) or may acquire it later in life as a result of other lung disorders.

Acquired bronchiectasis happens later in life.

Pathogenesis of Bronchiectasis:

Bronchiectasis happens when the damage to the airways induces them to widen and become weak and scarred.

The bronchi are the air tubes that carry the air in and out of the lungs.

Bronchiectasis happens as a result of an infection or other disorder that injures the walls of the airways or prevents the airways from clearing mucus.

The airways produce a slimy substance termed mucus which helps to remove inhaled bacteria, dust, and other small particles.

The air tubes gradually lose their ability to remove the mucus in bronchiectasis.

Mucus accumulates and produces an environment in which bacteria can grow.

This leads to repeated, serious lung infections.

Every time the air tubes are infected, more injuries happen to the air tubes.

Over a period of time the bronchi lose their capability to move air in and out.

As a result inadequate oxygen is prevented from reaching the vital organs.

Bronchiectasis results in serious health disorders, such as atelectasis (lung collapse), respiratory failure, and heart failure.

Bronchiectasis can be unilateral or may involve many lobes of both lungs.

There is irregular distribution of bronchial dilation in the lungs.

Bronchiectasis which often starts in childhood can lead to more lung damage.

Manifestation of symptoms may not happen until months or even years following repeated lung infections.

Frequent childhood infections such as whooping cough and measles were causes of many cases of bronchiectasis.

Due to vaccines and antibiotics, these causes are now less frequent.

Bronchiectasis often is due to a medical disorder that injures the airway walls or prevents the airways from clearing mucus.

Some such diseases are primary ciliary dyskinesia or PCD and cystic fibrosis.

Bronchiectasis that causes injury to only one part of the lung may be produced by a blockage rather than a medical disorder or infection.

Types of Bronchiectasis are:

a. Congenital bronchiectasis normally happens in infants and children.

It is the result of a disorder of formation of the lungs in a fetus.

b. Acquired bronchiectasis happens as a result of another illness or factor.

Adults and older children are affected by this acquired disorder.

Acquired bronchiectasis happens more often than the congenital type.

At present there is no cure for bronchiectasis but most people who have it and take proper care can live with a good quality of life.

It is therefore important to diagnose and treat bronchiectasis early.

The sooner the doctor starts treating bronchiectasis and any underlying disorders, the better are the chances of preventing further lung damage.

What is the cause of Bronchiectasis?

Cause:

Bronchiectasis is the saccular, cylindrical or cyst dilation of the bronchi often produced by recurrent inflammation or infection of the airways.

It is the end results of serious respiratory or pulmonary infections in childhood (whooping cough or measles).

There is destruction of the elastic and muscular components of the bronchial walls from the necrotic material and pus.

A more serious lung infection or tuberculosis in childhood or inhaling a foreign object may produce the disorder.

There is bronchial obstruction from foreign body or tumor or tuberculosis

Bronchiectasis can also be the result of