Abstract
This article illustrates the continuous airway, focusing on allergic and nonallergic associations between the nose and lungs, studying firstly the link between allergic rhinitis and asthma and secondly aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.
Key Points
- Rhinitis is a common chronic illness with a lifetime annual incidence of at least 7 per 1000 people.
- Over 80% of patients with asthma have rhinitis, and 10 to 40% of patients with rhinitis have asthma.
- Both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis are independent risk factors for the development of asthma.
- Treatment of rhinitis can influence asthma outcomes.
- Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease occurs in more than 14% of patients with severe asthma.
Picture credit: © Phototake/PDSN/Medical Images.
