Bronchiectasis is still an important problem in developing countries. The aims of the present study were to document the clinical, demographical and radiologic features of children with non-cystic bronchiectasis and to evaluate the relationship between bronchiectasis distribution severity scores obtained from high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan and pulmonary function tests. Age of symptom onset, age of diagnosis, frequency of presenting symptoms, physical examination findings, pulmonary function tests, and affected lobes in HRCT were evaluated; in addition, using HRCT, each lobe was scored separately to obtain a bronchiectasis distribution severity score. The cause could not be determined in 17 patients (30.9%); immunodeficiency was detected in 11 (20%) and infections in 9 (16.4%) patients as a cause of bronchiectasis. The most common presenting symptoms were cough and sputum expectoration. The most common affected lobe was the left lower lobe, and 21 patients (38.2%) had three or more lobe involvement. The anatomic extent scores obtained from HRCT scans were significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (r= -0.58, p<0.001) and MEF_25-75 (r= -0.56, p<0.001). Early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis will increase the quality of life of patients and decrease the complications of this irreversible process.

Keywords: bronchiectasis, children, HRCT scan, pulmonary function test