Importance of respiratory allergy in provoking reversible bronchial obstruction

In five groups of children: representative sample of normal population, children suffering from bronchitis in the past and children with diagnosed asthmatics, results of unspecific bronchial reactivity to histamine were evaluated and in some of the groups results of skin and inhalatory reactions to allergen solutions were compared. Important discrepancy between skin and inhalatory reactions was shown. Potentialization of unspecific bronchial hyperreactivity after history of bronchitis was noticed. No relationship between attacks of bronchitis in the first 12 months of life and respiratory allergization could be found.