As to how one gets bronchiectasis, I was told that a history of whooping cough is found in many cases of bronchiectasis. I had whooping cough at age 14, and also suffered bad coughs every time I had a common cold throughout my life. In the years just prior to diagnosis of BE I had flu, bronchitis and walking pneumonia. All that coughing adds up I guess, leading to weakening of bronchial tubes.