[DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF BRONCHIECTASIS: POSITION PAPER OF THE ISRAELI PULMONOLOGY SOCIETY AND THE ISRAELI PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY SOCIETY].

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bronchiectasis is anatomically defined by irreversible distortion of the bronchi. Clinically, its manifestations are cough with sputum production and a predisposition to pulmonary infections. Unlike asthma and COPD, where ample clinical data are present regarding the course and effective treatment, knowledge of bronchiectasis has yet to evolve. Lately, bronchiectasis is gaining renewed attention among the medical community, with growing basic and clinical research-based data. In Israel, no registered treatments exist for bronchiectasis, which makes it difficult to treat these patients. This paper is a summary of the position of the Israeli Pulmonology Association and the Israeli Pediatric Pulmonology Association for diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis.