MYCOPLASMA AND CHLAMYDIA - CAN THEY INDUC E BRONCHIAL HYPERREACTIVITYAND ASTHMA

Viral infections are a common cause of decompensation of astham, Among bacterial agents, only Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae have been reported to trigger exacerbations of asthma. A cough that p ersists for several weeks or months is common after a lower respirator y infection due to either of these two organisms, Some patients even d evelop de novo asthma. Bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine has b een demonstrated by several groups during and after the acute infectio n. The role of specific IgE antibodies in the genesis of these bronchi al manifestations is discussed.