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Respiratory viruses and asthma: can the effects be prevented?
1Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, UK.
Insights
Viral respiratory infections (RTIs) are linked to childhood asthma development. This review explores how viruses impact asthma and potential interventions for asthmatic patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are known triggers for asthma exacerbations.
- The precise role of RTIs in the initiation and persistence of childhood asthma remains unclear, partly due to diagnostic challenges in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of pathogenic interactions between viruses and asthma.
- To explore the potential long-lasting effects of severe viral infections on asthma and atopy development.
- To discuss potential interventions for managing viral infections in individuals with asthma.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on viral-asthma interactions.
- Inclusion of data from both human studies and animal models.
- Synthesis of evidence supporting current hypotheses on asthma etiology.
Main Results:
- Two primary hypotheses suggest genetic predisposition to both RTIs and asthma, or that severe viral infections influence asthma and atopy development.
- These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and may coexist.
- Pathogenic mechanisms linking viruses and asthma are complex and multifactorial.
Conclusions:
- Understanding viral-asthma interactions is crucial for pediatric respiratory health.
- Further research into early-life viral exposures may elucidate asthma pathogenesis.
- Interventions targeting viral infections could potentially modify asthma trajectories.
Abstract:
Although viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) frequently cause exacerbations of asthma, the relationship between RTIs and the initiation and maintenance of asthma in childhood is unclear. This is in part because of the difficulty of defining asthma in young children. Current evidence supports two hypotheses: 1) that predisposed children are susceptible to both severe RTIs and asthma; and 2) that severe viral infections may have long-lasting influences on the subsequent development of asthma, and perhaps even atopy. These two proposals are not mutually exclusive. This review summarizes our current state of knowledge of the pathogenic interactions between viruses and asthma (in both human and animal models). Possible interventions that might modify the effects of viral disease in asthmatics are discussed.