Bronchiectasis: still a problem.

The prevalence of bronchiectasis (BR) has decreased significantly in industrialized countries, but is still commonplace in developing countries. We evaluated 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 developed after tuberculosis or pneumonia, was associated with immune deficiency syndromes in 4 children, and with asthma in 4. Cystic fibrosis was diagnosed 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 lower lobe and were observed in 7 patients. Multilobar involvement was found in 13 patients. The initial treatment was primarily medical, but in 2 patients whose medical therapy failed, pulmonary resection was carried out. Three patients died from severe pulmonary infection and respiratory failure. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.