Asthma and infections: Is the risk more profound than previously thought?

摘要

In his thoughtful and comprehensive review, Dr Juhn1 brings to attention potential new and important information about the risks for bacterial infections in patients with asthma and other allergic diseases. The interplay between infections and asthma is of longstanding interest and important, but these factors have been seen primarily as factors that can provoke underlying airway disease. The review by Dr Juhn extends knowledge about infection-asthma interaction and raises the possibility that these patients are also at risk for invasive microbial disease. Although this risk might be rare, it has relevant clinical and public health perspectives of interest and importance to the physician and patient alike.