title: [Respiratory allergens and asthma exacerbation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma exacerbations are characterized by a progressive aggravation of respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, wheezing or chest tightness.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The relationship between allergy and asthma exacerbations has been evaluated by epidemiological studies based on various criteria such as oral corticosteroid requirement, emergency room visits and hospital admission for asthma. Many studies have observed that deteriorating asthma can be related to increased exposure to allergens, particularly allergens from house dust mite, cockroach, cat, rodent, mold or pollen. Several studies have demonstrated that sensitization to respiratory allergens and allergen exposure increases the risk of exacerbation of asthma. When asthma exacerbations are work-related, occupational allergens may be implicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most studies provide evidence that allergen exposure contributes to the risk of asthma exacerbations, but other precipitating factors, such as viruses, can interact and increase the risk.
authors: Unité d'asthme et d'allergologie, pôle de pathologie thoracique, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. Cindy.Barnig@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Barnig
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Casset
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens