Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Also known as: PCD, immotile cilia syndrome.

What are primary ciliary dyskinesia?

Cilia are hair-like structures in the airways that work together to keep the airways clean of dust, debris and foreign contaminants. In primary ciliary dyskinesia, the cilia are irregularly shaped and don’t function properly, which can lead to a number of complications.

What causes primary ciliary dyskinesia?

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is caused by genetic mutations. It is an inherited disorder that is passed along from parents to their children.

What are the symptoms of primary ciliary dyskinesia?

Symptoms of primary ciliary dyskinesia include chronic cough, breathing problems, a collapsed lung, nasal congestion, runny nose and chronic respiratory infections such as pneumonia.

What are primary ciliary dyskinesia care options?

There is no cure for primary ciliary dyskinesia. Treatment is focused on managing the symptoms with medications, exercise, physical therapy and other treatments.


Reviewed by: Yamilet Tirado, MD

This page was last updated on: September 09, 2019 03:04 PM