Child health · UKMLA & AKT
Bronchietasis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Post-infective - most common overall; measles, pertussis, TB, severe pneumonia
- Cystic fibrosis - most common identifiable cause in children in the UK; thick secretions overwhelm mucociliary clearance
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) - AR disorder; dynein arm defects; Kartagener syndrome = dextrocardia + bronchiectasis + chronic sinusitis
- Immunodeficiency - humoral (IgG subclass deficiency, IgA deficiency, CVID, XLA); suspect in recurrent/severe pneumonias
- Airway obstruction - inhaled foreign body (young children), endobronchial tumour, lymph node compression → localised bronchiectasis
- ABPA - Aspergillus hypersensitivity in atopic/asthma/CF patients; causes proximal central bronchiectasis
In any child with bronchiectasis, always investigate for CF, PCD, and immunodeficiency - sweat test, nasal NO, and immunoglobulins early.
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