Recurrent acute bronchitis: the association with undiagnosed bronchial asthma.
Forty-six consecutive patients with a history of recurrent acute bronchitis (chest colds) referred from primary care clinics were studied prospectively to determine if hyperreactive airways (mild bronchial asthma) was a concomitant entity. Mild bronchial asthma was diagnosed in 30/46 (65%) patients by history, physical examination, and routine spirometry, or by methacholine bronchial provocation. The incidence of mild bronchial asthma was markedly increased in patients with a history of recurrent acute bronchitis over that seen in the general population. These results emphasize a need to investigate an underlying cause in patients with recurrent acute bronchitis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking
D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D016210:Methacholine Chloride