Atelectasis and bronchiectasis are two different lung conditions. They specifically affect the respiratory function of the lungs.
The key difference between atelectasis and bronchiectasis is their cause. Atelectasis is a lung condition that happens when lung sacs called alveoli cannot inflate properly while bronchiectasis is a lung condition that happens when the airways get damaged and widen.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Atelectasis
3. What is Bronchiectasis
4. Similarities – Atelectasis and Bronchiectasis
5. Atelectasis vs Bronchiectasis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Atelectasis vs Bronchiectasis
7. FAQ – Atelectasis and Bronchiectasis
What is Atelectasis?
Atelectasis is a lung condition that causes the collapse of one or more parts of the lung, such as small air sacs called alveoli. In atelectasis, the alveoli in the lung or a part of the lung deflates, leading to a partial or complete collapsed lung. The symptoms of this condition may include trouble breathing or shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, rapid breathing, and skin and lips turning blue. It can be caused by surgery, mucus pug, inhaled objects, fluid around the lung, air around the lung, non-cancerous growths, cancerous tumors, lung scarring, and underlying illnesses.
Atelectasis can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, chest X-ray, and bronchoscopy. Furthermore, atelectasis can be treated through deep breathing exercises, removing obstruction in the lungs, physical therapy, bronchodilators, and managing tumors and chronic lung conditions.
What is Bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is a lung condition in which damage to the airways causes them to widen or develop pouches. The symptoms of this condition may include cough with lots of mucus and pus, repeated colds, bad-smelling mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, swollen fingertips with curved nails, fatigue, fever, chills, and night sweats. Bronchiectasis can be caused by cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, autoimmune inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, foreign bodies, tumors or lymph nodes, conditions that decrease immunity such as AIDS, primary ciliary dyskinesia, organ transplant, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Bronchiectasis can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, chest CT scan or X-ray, blood test, lung function test, genetic tests, sweat chloride test, and bronchoscopy. Furthermore, bronchiectasis is treated through medications such as antibiotics, macrolides, expectorants, physical therapy, medical devices like oscillating positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices, and percussive vests.
Similarities Between Atelectasis and Bronchiectasis
- Atelectasis and bronchiectasis are two lung conditions.
- Both lung conditions can cause similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath, coughing, etc.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests, and bronchoscopy.
- They can be treated through specific medications and therapies, such as physical therapy.
Difference Between Atelectasis and Bronchiectasis
Definition
- Atelectasis causes the collapse of one or more parts of the lung, specifically small air sacs called alveoli.
- Bronchiectasis causes airways in the lung to widen or develop pouches.
Causes
- Atelectasis is caused by general anaesthesia, mucus plug, foreign body, and tumour inside the airway.
- Bronchiectasis is caused by cystic fibrosis, previous severe respiratory infections like pneumonia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), primary ciliary dyskinesia, primary or secondary immunodeficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe asthma.
Symptoms
- Symptoms of atelectasis include having a hard time breathing, rapid, weak breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
- Symptoms of bronchiectasis include chronic daily cough, coughing up blood, atypical sounds while breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up large amounts of thick mucus, weight loss, fatigue, clubbing, and frequent respiratory infections.
Diagnosis
- Atelectasis is diagnosed by physical evaluation, chest X-ray, and bronchoscopy.
- Bronchiectasis is diagnosed by physical evaluation, CT scan, chest X-ray, blood test, lung function test, genetic tests, sweat chloride test, and bronchoscopy.
Treatment
- Atelectasis is treated by deep breathing exercises, removing obstruction in the lung, physical therapy, bronchodilators, managing tumors and chronic lung conditions.
- Bronchiectasis is treated by antibiotics, macrolides, expectorants, physical therapy, medical devices like oscillating positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices, and percussive vests.
The following table summarizes the difference between atelectasis and bronchiectasis.
Summary – Atelectasis vs Bronchiectasis
Lung disorders are those disorders that prevent the lungs from functioning properly. They usually affect the respiratory function or ability to breathe and pulmonary function. Atelectasis and bronchiectasis are two different lung conditions. Atelectasis is a lung condition where the partial collapse or closure of a lung results in improper inflating of the alveoli, while bronchiectasis is a lung condition where the bronchial tubes of the lungs are permanently damaged, widened, and thickened. This is the summary of the difference between atelectasis and bronchiectasis.
FAQ: Atelectasis and Bronchiectasis
1. What is the main cause of atelectasis?
- Atelectasis is the collapse of part or all of a lung. It is caused by a blockage of the air passages or by extra pressure on the lung. It is mainly caused by the general anesthesia given during surgeries.
2. What is the difference between pneumonia and atelectasis?
- Atelectasis is the incomplete expansion of the lung parenchyma that is associated with loss of volume. On the other hand, pneumonia is an infection of the lung parenchyma which is not associated with volume loss.
3. Does atelectasis need to be treated?
- Mild atelectasis may go away without treatment. In some instances, medicines are used to loosen and thin mucus. If the condition is due to a blockage, the patient may need surgery or other treatments.
4. What is bronchiectasis caused by?
- Bronchiectasis is mainly caused by cystic fibrosis. It is also caused by many other conditions like autoimmune disease, immunodeficiency disorders, such as HIV or diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
5. Can bronchiectasis go away?
- There is no cure for bronchiectasis. However, people can enjoy a good quality of life by managing the condition with stepwise treatment, including clearing their lungs, exercising, and taking necessary measures to lower the chance of lung infection.
Reference:
1. “Atelectasis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Bronchiectasis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Atelectasis” By Dr. Yale Rosen Atlas of Pulm (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Bronchiectasis” By Dr. Yale Rosen Atlas of Pulm (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
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