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These include:


There are a range of exercises, known as airway clearance techniques, that can help remove mucus from your lungs.



Active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT)

The most widely used technique in the UK is called active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT). It involves repeating a cycle made up of a number of different steps.

These include a period of normal breathing, followed by deep breaths to loosen the mucus and force it up, then coughing the mucus out. The cycle is then repeated for 20 to 30 minutes.



Postural drainage


Each technique can involve several complex steps, but most techniques involve leaning or lying down while the physiotherapist or a carer uses their hands to vibrate certain sections of your lungs as you go through a series of "huffing" and coughing.


There are also a number of handheld devices that can help remove mucus from your lungs.






Nebulised medications










Examples of this type of medication include beta 2-adrenergic agonist, anticholinergics and theophylline.


If you experience a worsening of symptoms because of a bacterial infection (infective exacerbation), you'll need to be treated with antibiotics.


Depending on the test results, you may be prescribed a different antibiotic, or in some cases a combination of antibiotics known to be effective against the specific bacteria causing the infection.

If you're well enough to be treated at home, you'll probably be prescribed 2 to 3 antibiotic tablets a day for 10 to 14 days.


If your symptoms are more severe, you may need to be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotic injections.

Preventative treatment




Using antibiotics in this way increases the risk that one or more types of bacteria will develop a resistance to the antibiotic. You may be asked to give regular phlegm samples to check for any resistance.

If bacteria do show signs of developing a resistance, your antibiotic may need to be changed.


Surgery is usually only recommended where bronchiectasis is only affecting a single section of your lung, your symptoms aren't responding to other treatment, and you don't have an underlying condition that could cause bronchiectasis to recur.

The lungs are made up of sections known as lobes – the left lung has 2 lobes and the right lung has 3 lobes.


Surgery won't be used if more than one lobe is affected, as it's too dangerous to remove so much lung tissue.