Clinically, patients with PCD demonstrate a number of generalized symptoms. The most common manifestations are bronchiectasis, chronic sinusitis, and male infertility. Rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are almost always seen, although immunoglobulin levels are rarely elevated. A history of chronic cough with purulent sputum production is also the norm, and results from the chronic infections associated with decreased mucous clearance. Chronic otitis media and hearing loss are also seen, but usually in children and young adults.
Male infertility is also a rule.
Sperm are normal in number, but are either immotile or dysmotile. An increase in female infertility has not been clearly documented and is still the subject of intense debate. Kartagener's Syndrome is a variant of PCD that results from a combination of bronchiectasis, chronic sinusitis and situs inversus totalis. Accordingly, Kartagener's syndrome has a prevalence of approximately 1 in every 32,000 births. In order to diagnose or confirm PCD, either a nasal biopsy or a sperm sample must be obtained.