A 35-year-old male presents with fever, and cough which is chronic and worse in the mornings. He expectorates copious, purulent, foul- smelling sputum which is three layered. The chest X-ray shows a honey-comb appearance. What can be the diagnosis?
Explanation
Answer: D - Bronchiectasis can be the diagnosis for the 35-year-old male having fever, cough which is chronic and worse in mornings, and expectorating copious , purulent, foul-smelling sputum which is three layered along with an X-ray showing honey-comb appearance.
Bronchiectasis is defined as a permanent abnormal dilatation of one or more bronchi, due to elastic and muscular components of bronchial wall. The hall mark of brochiectasis is chronic cough with sputum production. Cough is worse in the mornings and brought on by postural changes. Sputum is characteristically copious, purulent, and foul-smelling. Honey comb appearance in the chest x ray occurs in saccular bronchiectasis.
The other options of bronchitis and tuberculosis are also characterized by cough but the expectoration is not usually purulent and foul-smelling. Asthma is characterized by the presence of a wheeze. In addition, the chest X ray findings do not show honey-comb appearance in other conditions.
Chronic bronchitis (blue bloaters) is the inflammation of the bronchial tree secreting excessive mucous.
Asthma is the chronic inflammatory respiratory disease in which there is constriction of the airways and production of extra mucus.
Tuberculosis is bacterial infection of the lungs caused by bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria spread through airborne particles, which are inhaled deep into the lungs.
