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Infections and asthma

G Daniel Brooks1, Robert F Lemanske

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA.

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|August 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory infections like RSV and rhinovirus can trigger asthma in children and adults. Some infections may increase asthma risk or severity, while others may offer protection against developing asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Allergy & Immunology

Background:

  • Infections significantly impact asthma patients.
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a primary cause of wheezing in infants and a potential asthma risk factor.
  • Rhinovirus is a major trigger for asthma exacerbations in adults and older children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence linking various infections to asthma development and exacerbations.
  • To explore proposed mechanisms behind these infection-asthma associations.
  • To examine paradoxical protective effects of some infections against asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on respiratory infections and asthma.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data on virus-induced asthma.
  • Examination of proposed immunological and inflammatory pathways.

Main Results:

  • RSV is linked to early-life wheezing and potential asthma inception.
  • Rhinovirus is a leading cause of acute asthma exacerbations.
  • Some infections may promote chronic airway inflammation, worsening asthma, while others may be protective.

Conclusions:

  • Infections play a complex role in asthma, influencing its development, severity, and exacerbations.
  • Understanding these diverse effects is crucial for asthma management and prevention strategies.
  • Further research into infection-induced immune responses can elucidate asthma pathogenesis.

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