What is Edac (unknown medication) and bronchomalacia, and what are its symptoms?

From the Guidelines

I'm not familiar with a medication called Edac, as it's not a recognized pharmaceutical name, and bronchomalacia is a condition characterized by weakness of the cartilage in the walls of the bronchial tubes, causing them to become floppy and collapse during breathing, with symptoms including persistent wheezing, chronic cough, and difficulty breathing, as described in the study by 1.

Definition and Symptoms of Bronchomalacia

Bronchomalacia is a condition that affects the bronchial tubes, causing them to become weak and floppy. The main symptoms of bronchomalacia include:

• Persistent wheezing
• Chronic cough that may worsen with activity or feeding
• Recurrent respiratory infections
• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
• Noisy breathing In infants, it may present as:
• Prolonged expiration
• Retractions (using accessory muscles to breathe)
• Poor feeding

Causes and Management of Bronchomalacia

The condition occurs because the cartilage that normally keeps airways open is underdeveloped or becomes weakened, allowing the bronchial walls to collapse inward during expiration. Mild cases may improve as a child grows and airways become larger and stronger, while severe cases might require medical intervention such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or, rarely, surgical procedures to support the affected airways, as discussed in the study by 1.

Diagnostic Evaluation of Bronchomalacia

The diagnostic evaluation of bronchomalacia may involve imaging tests such as CT scans or chest radiography, as recommended in the study by 1. The choice of diagnostic test depends on the specific clinical presentation and the need to exclude other respiratory diseases that can cause similar symptoms.

Treatment Options for Bronchomalacia

Treatment options for bronchomalacia depend on the severity of the condition and may include:

• Observation and conservative management for mild cases
• CPAP therapy or other forms of positive airway pressure for more severe cases
• Surgical procedures to support the affected airways in rare cases, as described in the study by 1 It is essential to note that the management of bronchomalacia should be individualized and based on the specific needs of each patient, as emphasized in the study by 1.

From the Research

Edac and Bronchomalacia

• Edac is not clearly defined in the provided studies, and its relation to bronchomalacia or any medical condition is not specified.
• Bronchomalacia refers to a condition where the cartilage in the airways is weak or floppy, leading to airway narrowing or collapse.

Symptoms of Bronchomalacia

• Symptoms of bronchomalacia include:
  • Persistent cough
  • Wheezy breathing
  • Respiratory distress
  • Chest deformity
  • Clubbed fingers
  • Failure to thrive or small stature
  • Recurrent respiratory infections
  • Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
  • Mucostasis (accumulation of mucus in the airways)
  • Poor quality of life 2, 3, 4

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis of bronchomalacia and excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) should be based on dynamic flexible bronchoscopy and/or dynamic computed tomography scan, as well as clinical symptoms 3.
• Treatment of symptomatic EDAC includes treatment of coexisting conditions, supportive treatment of dynamic central airway collapse, and surgical central airway stabilization in selected patients 3.
• Medical management to optimize airway clearance of mucus is beneficial for patients with mild to severe tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) 2.
• Surgical intervention options are available for more severe cases of TBM with clinical sequelae 2, 5.