BRONCHIECTASIS (Gr. fpoyxra, bronchial tubes, and @Krauts, extension)

This article appears in Volume V04, Page 634 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: BRI-BUN

BRONCHIECTASIS (Gr. fpoyxra, bronchial tubes, and @Krauts, extension) , dilatation of the bronchi, a

condition

CONDITION (Lat. condicio, from condicere, to agree upon, arrange; not connected with conditio, from condere, conditum, to put together)

occurring in connexion with many diseases of the lungs.

Bronchitis

BRONCHITIS

both acute and chronic, chronic

pneumonia

PNEUMONIA (Gr. ?rveu AMP, lung)

and phthisis, acute

pneumonia

PNEUMONIA (Gr. ?rveu AMP, lung)

and broncho-pneumonia, may all leave after them a bronchiectasis whose position is determined by the primary lesion. Other causes, acting mechanically, are tracheal and bronchial obstruction, as from the pressure of an aneurism, new growth, &c. It used to be considered a disease of middle age, but of

late

LATE

years Dr Walter Carr has shown that the

condition

CONDITION (Lat. condicio, from condicere, to agree upon, arrange; not connected with conditio, from condere, conditum, to put together)

is a fairly common one among debilitated children after measles, whooping cough, &c. The dilatation is commonly cylindrical, more rarely saccular, and it is the

medium

MEDIUM

and smaller sized tubes that are generally affected, except where the cause is mechanical. The affection is usually of one lung only. Emphysema is a very common accompaniment. Though at first the symptoms somewhat resemble those of

bronchitis

BRONCHITIS

, later they are quite distinctive. Cough is very markedly paroxysmal in character, and though severe is intermittent, the patient being entirely free for many

hours

HOURS, CANONICAL

at the time. The effect of posture is very marked. If the patient lie on the affected side, he may be free from cough the whole night, but if he turn to the

sound

SOUND
SOUND, THE (Danish Oresund)

side, or if he rises and bends forward, he brings up large quantities of bronchial secretion. The expectoration is characterized by its abundance and manner of expulsion. Where the dilatation is of the saccular variety, it may come up in such quantities and with so much suddenness as to gush from the mouth. It is very commonly foetid, as it is retained and decomposed in situ. Dyspnoea and haemoptysis occasionally occur, but are by no means the

rule

RULE

. If pyrexia is present, it is a serious symptom, as it is a sign of septic absorption in the bronchi, and may be the forerunner of gangrene. If gangrene does set in, it will be accompanied by severe attacks of shivering and sweating. Where the disease has lasted

long

LONG, GEORGE (1800-1879)
LONG, JOHN DAVIS (1838– )

, clubbing of fingers and toes is very common. The diagnosis from putrid bronchitis is usually fairly easily made, but at times it may be a matter of extreme difficulty to distinguish between this condition and a tuberculous cavity in the lung. Nothing can be done directly to cure this disease, but the patient's condition can be greatly alleviated. Creosote vapour baths are eminently satisfactory. A mechanical treatment much recommended by some of the German physicians is that of forced expiration.

End of Article: BRONCHIECTASIS (Gr. fpoyxra, bronchial tubes, and @Krauts, extension)

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/BRI_BUN/BRONCHIECTASIS_Gr_fpoyxra_bron.html">
BRONCHIECTASIS (Gr. fpoyxra, bronchial tubes, a...
</a>

(Previous)
BROMSGROVE

(Next)
BRONCHITIS

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email