EARLY MANAGEMENT
Recognizing the signs of a bronchiectasis flare-up and starting early, pro-active treatment is important to prevent your flare-up from worsening.
Bronchiectasis Action Plan
To be able to recognize the early symptoms of an exacerbation, and activate the steps to help manage this, a bronchiectasis action plan can help. This also enables your family members to know what action you need to take in the event of an emergency.
This resource should be filled out with your healthcare team and reviewed on a regular basis. The video below outlines more details of the action plan. Ideally, this should be completed with your healthcare team at a time when your condition is stable.
Select this link to take you to a copy of the Bronchiectasis Action Plan.
If you have a flare-up, follow the steps below:
- Follow your Bronchiectasis Action Plan what was previously discussed with your GP or lung specialist
- Contact your GP or lung specialist. Avoid the ‘wait and see if you improve’
- Note the colour of your mucus and any changes in your symptoms compared to your baseline
- Initiate additional medications as prescribed
- Monitor your symptoms closely
- Undertake any airway clearance techniques to help expectorate your mucus or breathing techniques to reduce your breathlessness
- Keep up your fluids and small amounts of nourishing food but more frequently
- Pace your activity by breathing up tasks and allowing more time to complete them
When to go to hospital
If you have a further change in your symptoms, including blood in your mucus, wheezing, increase in coughing and generally feeling unwell, with difficulty breathing and a fever or confusion, you should go to a hospital.