title: Defecation-induced bronchospasm.
abstract: Acute asthma exacerbations are common. Patients with asthma experience symptoms in response to a wide variety of stimuli, and identifying the precipitating cause may be useful in guiding treatment and preventing future attacks. A case of asthma exacerbation occurring during multiple defecations is reported. Abnormal parasympathetic tone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain types of asthma, and defecation can be associated with increased parasympathetic tone. This patient's pattern of defecation-related asthma exacerbations responded to prophylactic anticholinergic medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Alameda County Medical Center, Oakland, California 94602, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003672:Defecation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists