Why does bronchiectasis cause cough?

In bronchiectasis, some airways remain widened and do not move mucus out as effectively. Mucus can then sit in the airways, irritate them and provide a place where infections may develop. Cough is a common presentation of Bronchiectasis. A cough on its own can have many other causes, such as a viral illness, asthma, reflux, smoking or medicines. Changes in the amount, thickness or colour of mucus can help a clinician judge whether the airways have changed.

Follow the airway-clearance plan given by your respiratory team. This may include specific breathing and coughing techniques, activity, hydration where appropriate, and prescribed inhaled or other medicines. Do not borrow antibiotics or rely on leftover medicine. Contact your usual clinician when your cough is more frequent, brings up more mucus, disrupts sleep, or is accompanied by worsening breathlessness, so they can assess whether treatment needs changing.

Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, chest pain, blue or grey lips, confusion, a high fever with marked illness, or coughing up blood. If you have an individual action plan, use its urgent-care instructions as well. These symptoms may need prompt examination and support for breathing or infection.

Ask whether your mucus-clearance technique is still suitable, how to recognise an exacerbation, and whether a sample of mucus should be tested during a flare. Bring your inhalers and a note of recent symptom changes so technique and treatment can be reviewed.