Primary ciliary dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, inherited disease that causes infections in the lungs, as well as in the throat, nose, and ears. In PCD, the cilia (the tiny hairs that vibrate to help clean the airways) do not vibrate correctly, which results in slow movement of mucus and blocked breathing passages.

The symptoms of PCD are much the same as those of the common cold, including:

• A runny or stuffy nose.
• Facial pain and pressure.
• A yellow or greenish discharge from your nose or down the back of your throat (postnasal discharge).
• Breathing problems, such as wheezing.
• Coughing.

There is no cure for PCD. Treatment for respiratory blockage symptoms includes antibiotics and mucus-clearing techniques.