Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a respiratory condition in which damage to the airways in the lungs results in them becoming permanently widened [1]. The most common symptom of bronchiectasis is a cough with sputum (a mixture of saliva and mucus).

Bronchiectasis is prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly Aboriginal children, who experience high rates of the condition [2]. Bronchiectasis is a common cause of hospitalisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [3] and rates of the disease increase with remoteness [4].

Improving rates of bronchiectasis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations requires strategies that address the socioeconomic, environmental and cultural factors that can contribute to the disease [5].