Bronchiectasis is a severe disease that causes the airways of the lungs to become unusually wide and causes an accumulation of mucus. This situation can leave your lungs open to all sorts of infections. With many potential triggers, it’s important to know what is behind this condition. In this article, we’ll explore the main causes of bronchiectasis that’ll help you understand this condition a bit better.
What are the Causes of Bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is usually caused by damage to the lungs, either through an infection or a genetic disorder. Listed below are the main causes of bronchiectasis:
- Mycobacterial Infections: Conditions like MAC infections and tuberculosis can trigger bronchiectasis.
- Cystic Fibrosis: This genetic condition produces thick mucus that damages the lungs.
- Autoimmune or Inflammatory Disorders: Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lupus (SLE), and Sjögren's syndrome can cause lung inflammation.
- Airway Obstructions: Foreign bodies, tumours, or enlarged lymph nodes can block airways and lead to lung damage.
- Conditions Affecting Immunity: Diseases like HIV and hypogammaglobulinemia increase infections.
- Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Affects the cilia in the respiratory tract and hinders mucus clearance.
- Post-Organ Transplant Effects: Organ transplant medications can suppress the immune system and increase infections.
- Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA): This is an allergic reaction to a type of fungus that can lead to lung damage.
- Radiation-Induced Fibrosis: Lung scarring due to radiation therapy can cause the development of bronchiectasis.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: This disorder causes lung damage and increases the risk of developing bronchiectasis.