A Link Between Chronic Asthma and Chronic Infection? New research shows a possible link between chronic bacterial respiratory infections and persistent asthma. Researchers sought to define the association between chronic asthma and Mycoplasma and Chlamydia species, bacterial microorganisms responsible for respiratory tract infections, by performing a comparison study of 55 stable, chronic asthmatic patients and 11 non-asthmatic control subjects. Blood specimens, nasopharyngeal swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and tissues obtained by lung biopsy were obtained and studied for evidence of infection by asthma information center asthma information center these two species of bacteria. Researchers found that 25 of the 55 asthmatic patients tested positive for Mycoplasma, while only one of the eleven control subjects tested positive. Seven of the 55 asthmatic patients tested positive for Chlamydia while none of the control subjects had positive results Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, or both were found in the airways of 31 (56.4%) asthmatic patients. The investigators found that asthmatic subjects with evidence of chronic infection also had increased numbers of mast cells (cells critical asthma cures asthma information center to asthmatic reactions) in their lung tissue when compared to those asthmatic patients with negative test results. Researchers also found that medication may possibly affect microorganisms in the airways. Those asthmatics not using inhaled corticosteroids (the most effective medicine currently available for the treatment of chronic asthma) were twice as likely to have evidence of chronic infection, when compared to those asthmatics taking there inhaled corticosteroids on a regular basis. Respiratory viral infections have long been implicated as a potent trigger coughing exercise asthma information center of asthmatic reactions. These researchers have now found that a significant proportion of their chronic asthmatic subjects had Mycoplasma, Chlamydia or both present in their airways suggesting that chronic bacterial respiratory infections may also contribute to asthma. This connection will almost certainly influence the way chronic asthma is evaluated and treated, according to researchers. Underserved allergy sufferers, asthmatics Asthma and allergies are at all-time highs in inner city areas. Asthma, which often co-exists with allergic rhinitis (hay fever), is 26% more asthma spacers asthma information center prevalent in African
