Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma: The United Airways Disease.
Interactions between the upper and lower airways have been well investigated in the past 30 years. The nasal and bronchial mucosa share similarities, in addition to their functional interaction.
At least 80% of asthmatics have rhinitis and up to 40% of patients with rhinitis have asthma
proposing the concept of ‘one airway one disease’ although there is still some differences between rhinitis and asthma.
Recently, many clinical and as well as experimental studies suggested uniting the upper and
lower airway diseases in a single term as was proposed by Passalacqua et al. This new link was founded by clinical epidemiological and immunological studies in addition to therapeutic outcomes.
The recent understanding of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms, including the cells, mediators and cytokines involved in the allergic inflammation in the respiratory tract has added more proof to the functional links between the nose and bronchi.
According to the latest guidelines on the treatment and control of allergic rhinitis: The Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma workshop report; bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are distinct manifestations of a single airway and of the same disease.
Since, upper respiratory tract infections are among the very important causes of asthma exacerbation and also rhinitis
has been found to be an important risk factor for developing asthma through postnasal drip into the lower airways or through mediators that directly alter airway reactivity or cause lower airway inflammation
Pulm Res Respir Med Open J. 2016; 3(2): e3-e4. doi: 10.17140/PRRMOJ-3-e005
