Abstract
United airway disease is characterised by inflammation of the respiratory tract, in which asthma and rhinitis are the upper and lower respiratory tract manifestations, respectively, of the same disease process. Irrespective of cause, the upper and lower respiratory tract manifestations are characterised by a systemic inflammatory response. Patients with rhinitis or asthma should always be assessed for coexistent disease in the reciprocal area. Treatment of upper airway disease can modify the severity of lower airway disease and vice versa. The potential for early treatment of allergic rhinitis to prevent progression to asthma merits further study.
MeSH terms
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
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Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
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Asthma / immunology*
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Bronchi / anatomy & histology
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Bronchi / physiology
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Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
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Desensitization, Immunologic
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Histamine H1 Antagonists / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Leukotriene Antagonists / therapeutic use
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Nasal Mucosa / anatomy & histology
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Nasal Mucosa / physiology
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Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
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Respiratory Mucosa / anatomy & histology
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Respiratory Mucosa / physiology
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Rhinitis / immunology*
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Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / immunology
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Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / immunology
Substances
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones
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Anti-Asthmatic Agents
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Histamine H1 Antagonists
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Leukotriene Antagonists