The symptom that manifests in the fingers and may be a sign of a rare lung disease

In most cases, our body sends us signals that warn us that something is wrong with our health , although ignorance causes these warnings to go unnoticed. In this case, we're talking about a rare lung disease called bronchiectasis, which manifests as a special deformity in the fingers called "clubbed fingers."

Thus, this abnormal swelling of the hands, along with other specific symptoms, warns of the presence of this pathology, which usually arises from an infection in the walls of the respiratory tract that prevents mucus from being eliminated, and which requires medical attention to prevent bacteria from accumulating.

What is bronchiectasis, and what causes it?

As explained by experts from the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine , bronchiectasis is an abnormal and irreversible dilation of the bronchial tree , which conducts air from the trachea to the end of the lung's respiratory functional unit, known as the alveolus. Bronchiectasis can be localized or generalized.

Possible causes of this rare lung disease could include a previous lung disease (pneumonia , tuberculosis, radiotherapy), association with chronic respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma, bronchial stenosis) or even general diseases such as cystic fibrosis , immunodeficiencies or inflammatory bowel disease.

If you notice this symptom in your fingers, it could be bronchiectasis.

Regarding the symptoms of this rare disease, they appear progressively , from a few weeks to years after the event that triggered it. However, it is not easy to identify, as the symptoms are varied and some are similar to other diseases.

Skin with a bluish tint, halitosis , a chronic cough with foul-smelling sputum (phlegm originating in the lungs), increased morning expectoration, and repeated bronchial infections are some of the warning signs. However, there is one symptom that manifests in the hands that should make us suspect that we may have bronchiectasis.

The fingers and toes of people with this condition appear more swollen than normal , and this occurs in the most distal part (clubbed). When this is observed, it is time for a doctor to diagnose and help improve with treatment that keeps the airways free of obstructions.

Why does it manifest itself this way in the fingers?

So-called clubbing of the fingers, which can occur in the hands but also in the toes, involves inflammation and deformity around the nails and is associated with many disorders, not just bronchiectasis.

To recognize this symptom, observe that the fingernails are not firmly attached but rather appear to be "floating." The ends of the fingers become prominent, the nails curl downward , and the appearance of the nails occurs within a matter of weeks; it doesn't take long.

So, in addition to being a warning sign of bronchiectasis ( chronic lung infections in people with this disease, or cystic fibrosis), clubbing of the fingers and toes is also characteristic of lung cancer, congenital heart defects, and interstitial lung disease.