Aeroallergens and Asthma
The main aeroallergens in both the indoor and outdoor environment that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma are reviewed. Pollen and fungal spores are important outdoor aeroallergens that cause sensitization in atopic subjects, leading to rhinitis and asthma in a proportion of...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1994-01-01
|
| Series: | Canadian Respiratory Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1994/780479 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The main aeroallergens in both the indoor and outdoor
environment that have been implicated in the pathogenesis
of allergic asthma are reviewed. Pollen and fungal spores
are important outdoor aeroallergens that cause sensitization
in atopic subjects, leading to rhinitis and asthma in a proportion
of the sensitized subjects. Each pollen type displays a
particular seasonal periodicity: tree pollen are prevalent in
the late winter and spring, grass in the spring and summer
and weed mainly in the fall. There are regional differences
in the type of pollen grains in Canada. Although the pollen
grains arc large fragments less than 10 µ can reach the
lower airways to cause asthma. Some fungal spores. such as
Alternaria and Cladosporium, have been implicated in
asthma. The full clinical impact of fungi in asthma has yet
lo be clarified. With the construction of homes that are
tightly scaled to conserve heat and the use or wall to wall
carpet. the type and concentration of indoor aeroallergens
have become increasingly different from outdoors. House
dust mite and pet allergens have now been shown to he
important acro:dlergcns that sensitize children in infancy
and are risk factors for asthma. Clinicians should recognize
the importance of aeroallergens in asthma because avoidance
and/or reduc1iun of exposure is an important part of the
management besides drug therapy. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1198-2241 |