Bronchiectasis: Still a problem

The prevalence of bronchiectasis (BR) has decreased significantly in indust rialized countries, but is still commonplace in developing countries. We ev aluated the causes and clinical features of BR in 23 children (13 boys (57% ) and 10 girls (43%), with a mean age of 8.45 +/- 4.02 years). Infection was the major cause of BR in our region. In 8 patients, BR develo ped after tuberculosis or pneumonia, was associated with immune deficiency syndromes in 4 children, and with asthma in 4. Cystic fibrosis was diagnose d in 4 cases and ciliary dyskinesia in 3. In 10 patients, only one lobe was involved, Bronchiectatic lesions were most commonly found in the left lowe r lobe and were observed in 7 patients. Multilobar involvement was found in 13 patients. The initial treatment was primarily medical, but in 2 patient s whose medical therapy failed, pulmonary resection was carried out. Three patients died from severe pulmonary infection and respiratory failure. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.