Educational Content: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Definition of Primary ciliary dyskinesia
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Primary ciliary dyskinesia: The immotile cilia syndrome, a condition in which poorly functioning cilia (hairlike projections from cells) in the respiratory tract contribute to retention of secretions and recurrent infection. The condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is due to mutation in one of several different genes located on chromosomes 5, 9 and 19. About half of patients have Kartagener syndrome (bronchiectasis, sinusitis, and situs inversus in which the normal asymmetry of the body is partially or totally reversed).