Pediatric Bronchiectasis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Michael R Bye, MD; Chief Editor: Michael R Bye, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 6, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Bronchiectasis is a relatively uncommon condition that is often unsuspected in a child with previously diagnosed obstructive pulmonary disease, such as asthma. The clinician must remember that asthma does not cause digital clubbing. A child with asthma and clubbing must be further evaluated. The child with asthma who does not respond as expected to therapy should be further evaluated.

The identification of bronchiectasis in a child without a known underlying disorder should prompt efforts to determine the etiology of the bronchiectasis.

Differentials

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Michael R Bye, MD  Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Attending Physician, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center

Michael R Bye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Chest Physicians, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Charles Callahan, DO  Professor, Deputy Chief of Clinical Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Charles Callahan, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, American Thoracic Society, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Christian Medical & Dental Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Thomas Scanlin, MD  Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Thomas Scanlin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Thoracic Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Charles Callahan, DO  Professor, Deputy Chief of Clinical Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Charles Callahan, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, American Thoracic Society, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Christian Medical & Dental Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael R Bye, MD  Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Attending Physician, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center

Michael R Bye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Chest Physicians, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Pauline Fani, MD, to the development and writing of the source article.

References

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Posteroanterior chest radiograph of a child with bronchiectasis due to chronic aspiration.
CT scan of the chest of a child with bronchiectasis due to chronic aspiration.
Chest radiograph of a child with severe adenoviral pneumonia as an infant. The child has persistent symptoms of cough, congestion, and wheezing.
Bronchoscopic bronchogram of the left lower lobe on a patient with history of adenoviral pneumonia, demonstrating cylindrical and varicose types of bronchiectasis.
Bronchoscopic bronchogram of the right upper lobe of a patient with a history of adenoviral pneumonia, demonstrating saccular bronchiectasis.
 
 
 
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