Infections and asthma.
A new paradigm is developing in regard to the interaction between infection and asthma. This paradigm comprises the acute exacerbations seen in asthma and also asthma chronicity. Viral infections have been commonly evaluated in acute exacerbations, but findings suggest viral-allergen and viral-bacterial interactions are important for chronicity. Most recently, studies are also invoking atypical bacterial infections, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae, as factors in both acute exacerbation and chronic asthma.
National Jewish Medical and Research Center, University of Colorado, 1400 Jackson Street, Office J206, Denver, CO 80206, USA. martinr@njc.org
Richard J
RJ
Martin
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy