Viral infection and development of asthma

Abstract

 Viral infection induces both development and exacerbations of bronchial asthma. A number of case-control studies following to Tucson Children's Respiratory Study appear to have established at least a statistical connection between RS virus infection in infancy and the development of recurrent wheezing and asthma in young children. In later life, it appears unlikely to be a cause of atopic asthma. Rhinovirus infection is a major cause of acute exacerbations of asthma in both adult and children. Recent report by COAST study showed that the most significant risk factor for the development of preschool childhood wheezing is the occurrence of symptomatic rhinovirus illnesses during infancy. On the other hand, COPSAC birth cohort study suggest that the association between respiratory infections in early life and later asthma is independent of virus type. In this review, the pathophysiology of development of childhood asthma induced by viral infection will be discussed.