The most common symptom of BE is a chronic (persistent) cough. Some people with BE produce only a little mucus, while others may cough up large amounts.

In some patients, there may be little or no cough and minimal or no sputum production. This is sometimes called “dry bronchiectasis.” Inflammation of the airways is still present in dry BE. It can still progress and cause airway damage and is sometimes associated with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. Not producing sputum does not mean you do not have BE! A chronic cough is often the first sign of BE and may continue for years before a patient is diagnosed with BE.

In addition to coughing up mucus, some patients also cough up blood. This is known as hemoptysis. Some patients rarely experience hemoptysis, whereas for others it may be more common. It can also be a signal that an active infection is present in the lungs. For more information on hemoptysis, see the section on “Hemoptysis: What You Need to Know” on page 28.

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is another common symptom of BE, which may occur even when lung function tests appear normal. It may feel like a heaviness in the chest or the inability to take a full, deep breath. This happens when mucus plugs, which are thick clumps of mucus, block the airways, making it harder to breathe. Patients with BE may also experience wheezing as well as fatigue, which can
result from the extra effort of breathing and from repeated lung infections. These symptoms are not unique to BE, which can lead to delayed diagnosis. Some treatments used to manage other airway diseases may not be appropriate for BE, so an accurate and timely diagnosis is important.

Symptoms can be different for every person and may change over time. Always tell your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse or change.