We need to get Made to jump in here. I think he was diagnosed in his teens. Made?

Wow, that is really young! Did you have underlying lung issues? Asthma, etc.? When I was diagnosed at 35 y.o. here in Florida, all the doctors told me I was very young for the diagnosis. The largest population of those affected here in south Florida are typically in their 70's. (Of course, that accounts for much of the population in south Florida ;-0)

Hello! I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis when I was 18 years old. I had a episode of hemoptysis which caused me into hospital and the CT scan showed it.

The cause of my bronchiectasis is unclear. I think it can be genetic problem (primary ciliary diskinesia), or it can be immune problem (immunoglobulin deficiency, alpha-1), etc.

I've been living with bronchiectasis for about two and half years now. Lately I just started TB medication.

I found many people online who have lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and diagnosed in their early age. It's amazing to know about how they can make a good life while having lung disease at the same time. I just want to be like them too. ;)

I was diagnosed at 39y.o. There is a broad age range ; majority are over 50

On one of my asthma support groups a 2 yr old was diagnosed I never heard of one that young.

I have met several young children w NTM ; they usually have PCP , primary ciliary dyskinesia or other pulmonary issue

Hi Rachel,

Here's an excellent overview on bronchiectasis from Medscape.

I strongly recommend that you educate yourself extensively on bronchiectasis in general and on your particular type of bronchiectasis as much as possible. One of your key goals is to rapidly and regularly eliminate, to the greatest degree possible,any thick, stuck adherent mucus deep in your bronchial system, which further exacerbates this chronic condition.

Also that you find a good physician, preferably a pulmonologist or a good primary care physician who is interested in this condition.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition and you'll be doing yourself a favor if you become a "project management expert" in your specific condition.

That means you need to keep active updated records/logs of your condition in conjunction with your physicians, including :

Possibly Measure/chart peak flow meters and spirometry,& subjective symptoms.

1.diagnostic workups,(make sure you've had a CT of the chest, that's one of the best diagnostic tools)

2.your treatment plans:for the following:

2a. Your preventive and Maintenance Game Plan: review ideal daily maintenance game plan including things like yearly flu and pneumonia immunizations,avoiding exposure to viral and bacterial upper respiratory pathogens.

Maintenance game plan Goals, maintain max activities of daily living,pulmonary function .

minimize flareups,minimize production of thick tenacious phlegm//sputum and maximize your ability to loosen up and cough out/get rid of any thick tenacious phlegm/sputum.

2b. Game plan for Flareups & Exacerbations including possibly:

?sputum C&S

?antibiotics ( e.g azithromycin vs biaxin, for 7-10 days prn flareups)

? prednisone burst for flareups

? bronchodilators, etc.possibly increasing during flareups.

I happen to be a healthcare provider with a mild case of bronchiectasis, and have become much more 'locked in/focused' on many fundamental things that one can do is a patient to try and help mitigate against this chronic condition.

Good luck!

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis in 1979. It took the doctors about a year to finally come up with that diagnosis. The most common answers I've encountered from my doctors over the years is that there is no single specific known cause for most persons who have bronchiectasis, but it generally involves having something like pneumonia as a child/infant for example. However, sometimes there is a known specific event like inhaling an object and injuring your lungs that way that causes the onset of the disease, and of course those who have CF and get bronchiectasis as well. It is my understanding that you can develop bronchiectasis as a child and not have the severe symptoms we see as aging adults. I think that is the case for me. In my 20's and 30's I start having to clear my throat a lot but it never really affected me much. However, once I had my first bleeding episode (1979) things changed dramatically when I was finally diagnosed. The progressive nature of the disease is most disheartening since year by year it gets worse, especially as you age (I'm 67 now). It's difficult to admit to yourself that you cannot do many things (hobbies, sports, home projects, etc.) that you loved to do before because you will pay for it with exacerbations. It is also tough to come to the realization that one no longer has the energy, strength, or stamina to do many of those things you so enjoyed in the past. I still do a lot of projects at home, however I am scrupulous about wearing dust masks and other protective devices. But, as I say to others, it now takes me 3 times a s long to do a project, so you'd never want to pay me by the hour to do a project for you!! (lol)

My daughter was just recently diagnosed at the age of 14 months old. We are struggling information or others who were diagnosed so young.

I was diagnosed at 56.

I was diagnosed at age 4. I am 72! Is that a record??

I was diagnosed at age 16. They think I have an udnerlying Neutrophil defect or due to severe Asthma. Hard to say. :)

I am curious about treatments used with the 14-month old. My heart goes out to her and her parents.