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Treatment of Bronchiectasis

Treatment is difficult and involves heavy use of antibiotics, and physiotherapy with head and chest-down positioning and thumping of the chest to help bring up sputum. This is called postural drainage. It is most effective if performed three times a day for at least ten minutes.

A highly effective treatment is to inhale large enough doses of antibiotics over a long enough period to get rid of all infection. This may be repeated regularly. Antibiotics can also be given by mouth or injection. In cases of severe wheezing, drugs to widen the bronchi (bronchodilators) may be helpful.

If the trouble is limited to a single lung lobe, surgical removal of the affected lobe may be the best treatment. This is highly effective, but unfortunately it is rare for the disease to be limited in this way.

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