Symptoms

Here are the most common symptoms:

A cough that just won’t go away. This is often a “wet” cough, meaning you cough up mucus

Lots of mucus coming up when you cough

Feeling really tired

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Coughing up blood

Flare-ups (when your symptoms get much worse).

Looking out for flare-ups

Flare-ups are common with bronchiectasis, but everyone’s experience is different.  Most people have one or two flare-ups a year, but some people won’t have one for a year or more. Flare-ups can be caused by infections, viruses, pollution and other health problems.  

When you have a flare-up, your cough might get worse, you might have more mucus, the mucus might change colour or have blood in it and you might feel more breathless or tired. If you’ve had bad flare-ups before, you’re more likely to have them again.

It’s important to treat flare-ups early so your lungs don’t get damaged further.  Treatment depends on how bad the flare-up is. Usually, it involves clearing your airways and taking antibiotics. It’s a good idea to make a bronchiectasis action plan with your doctor to help you manage flare-ups. This plan can be a really helpful tool. 

To help prevent flare-ups, it’s important to:

• Keep your airways clear, even when you’re feeling well. A respiratory physiotherapist can help you with this
• Take your medications regularly, exactly as your doctor tells you. This might include taking antibiotics every day to help prevent infections
• Stay up to date with your flu, pneumonia and COVID vaccinations
• Quit smoking
• Treat any pre-existing conditions such as reflux, sinusitis or hay fever.

Bronchiectasis action plan

A bronchiectasis action plan helps you understand your usual symptoms, how to know when they’re changing, and what to do. It also has information on how to keep your airways clear. It’s important to make this plan with your doctor and look at it together regularly.

Paediatric bronchiectasis action management plan

This plan is for kids with bronchiectasis. It helps you understand your child’s usual symptoms, how to tell when they’re changing, and what to do. Just like the adult plan, it’s important to make this plan with your child’s doctor and review it together regularly.