17th February 2025

Presentation of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis often presents as a chronic productive cough with recurrent chest infections or “bronchitis” over a number of years. Patients typically have daily mucopurulent sputum with intermittent haemoptysis. They may also have chronic progressive breathlessness.

On examination, patients may have coarse inspiratory and expiratory crackles or wheeze and finger clubbing.