Allergens, germs and asthma

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Allergy

Background:

• Asthma is a complex inflammatory condition of the airways.
• Current understanding suggests asthma is more than isolated bronchial inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate asthma pathogenesis by examining data from both upper and lower airways.
• To integrate findings from genetic, molecular, histological, and clinical studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of high-quality, English-language studies published from 1990 onwards.
• Inclusion of research on human asthma and nasal polyp subjects.

Main Results:

• Asthma is a polymorphic disease, often involving more than just Th2 bronchial inflammation.
• Viral infections can initiate asthma in children and adults, synergizing with atopy.
• Chronic staphylococcal colonization may promote asthma, potentially facilitated by viral infections.

Conclusions:

• Asthma frequently begins in the nasal passages, linked to allergies and infections (viral and bacterial).
• The interplay of atopy and infection presents novel therapeutic strategies for asthma management.