Asthma, bronchoectasis

for someone with asthma problems for forty more years now, the doctor then diagnosed her with bronchoectasis.. how does asthma relate to bronchoectasis? and from what i asked the patient, she is not on any of the antibiotics common for bronchoectasis..

[Sunny602]

Bronchiectasis is dilation and inflammation of the airways with lots of thick, sticky mucous production. Bronchiectasis is permanent damage, can result from repeat infections or certain types of infection (MAC tends to be a huge culprit here). I have mild bronchiectasis from atypical CF and am treated with nebulized antibiotics (inhaled tobramycin every other month for pseudomonas infection), zithromax and IV"s when necessary. Nebulized mucolytics (meds that break down mucous) such as Pulmozyme and mucomyst are helpful. Chest physiotherapy is also important to help loosen the mucous in the lungs as well.
Asthma is separate, it is bronchoconstriction, with inflammation that is reversible with medication that opens up airways such as albuterol. There are also meds that help with the inflammation such as steroid inhalers, sometimes steroid pills when the wheezing is bad or asthma is out of control and needs a burst of anti inflammatory to help, Singulair,and other meds. Allergies aggrevate asthma symptoms greatly for most (but not always) as far as I know...but I could be wrong.
Both can occur at the same time...I too have asthma on top of the bronchiectasis.
I hope that this helps, Sunny

[silentkiller_7]

asthma is a bronchoconstriction which are reversible.it normaly occurs when there is triggering factor,normally in adults due to house dust or certain allergy foods.It is reversible with drugs such as Albuterol which are normally given in the form of nebuliser.Steroid are useful as long term controller.Bronchoectasis is dilatation of the airway due to inflammation and it is not reversible.Using bronchodilator such as Albuterol can give short time relief but it do not cure it.Ongoing inflammation on the airway leads to bronchoectasis,it is best diagonsed by bronchoscopy.