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Infections and asthma

Richard J Martin1

  • 1National Jewish Medical and Research Center, University of Colorado, 1400 Jackson Street, Office J206, Denver, CO 80206, USA. martinr@njc.org

Clinics in Chest Medicine
|March 18, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Infection significantly impacts asthma, influencing both acute flare-ups and long-term asthma chronicity. Emerging research highlights viral, bacterial, and atypical bacterial infections as key factors in asthma development and exacerbation.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition.
  • Infections are known triggers for asthma exacerbations.
  • The role of specific pathogens in asthma chronicity is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolving understanding of infection's role in asthma.
  • To investigate the impact of various infections on acute asthma exacerbations and chronic asthma.
  • To highlight recent findings on atypical bacterial involvement.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on infection and asthma.
  • Analysis of findings related to viral, bacterial, and atypical bacterial infections.
  • Synthesis of evidence linking infections to asthma exacerbations and chronicity.

Main Results:

  • Viral infections are strongly associated with acute asthma exacerbations.
  • Viral-allergen and viral-bacterial interactions are implicated in asthma chronicity.
  • Atypical bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae, are increasingly recognized as contributors to both acute and chronic asthma.

Conclusions:

  • A new paradigm emphasizes the multifaceted role of infections in asthma.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing asthma exacerbations and chronicity.
  • Further research into atypical bacterial infections may offer new therapeutic targets.

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