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We don't really know how many people get bronchiectasis. There haven't been any good statistics to show how common it is.

Bronchiectasis seems to:

• Have become less common in the last 50 years
• Be more common in people living in poorer countries than in people in richer countries.

It's now quite unusual in the United States and Europe. When it does happen, it's most often because of cystic fibrosis.¹

Most people with bronchiectasis developed it in childhood, although it can start at any age.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.