Role of infection in the development and exacerbation of asthma

Abstract

Respiratory infections are associated with wheezing illnesses in all ages and may also impact the development and severity of asthma. Respiratory tract infections caused by viruses, Chlamydophila or Mycoplasma have been hypothesized to have significant roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. Progress is being made toward establishing the mechanisms by which these agents can cause acute wheezing and impact the pathophysiology of asthma. Host factors probably contribute to the risk of asthma inception and exacerbation, and these contributions may also vary with respect to early- versus adult-onset disease. This review discusses these various associations as they pertain to the development and exacerbation of asthma.

Keywords::

• asthma
• asthma inception
• exacerbation
• respiratory infection
• virus

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Loren C Denlinger is supported by NHLBI grants, K23 HL081492 and P01 HL088594. Theresa W Guilbert is supported by NHLBI grants, U10 HL64305 and P01 HL070831-06A1. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.