What it is
It can follow a severe lung infection, or be linked to immune problems, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. Often no cause is found.
Daily airway clearance exercises are central to treatment. Flare-ups are treated with antibiotics, and some people take long-term antibiotics to prevent them.
Common signs
- A cough that brings up a lot of phlegm most days
- Frequent chest infections
- Breathlessness
- Tiredness
- Coughing up blood occasionally
How it is usually diagnosed
- High-resolution CT scan of the chest
- Sputum tests to find bacteria
- Breathing tests
- Blood tests to look for a cause
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- CT reports
- Sputum culture results over time
- Breathing test results
- A record of flare-ups and the antibiotics used
Questions to ask your doctor
- What caused it, and can that be treated?
- Which airway clearance technique suits me?
- Should I keep standby antibiotics at home?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Coughing up a lot of blood, severe breathlessness, or chest pain: call 112
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.