Letters
Role of viral infections in exacerbations of asthma
BMJ 1995; 311 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.7005.629c (Published 02 September 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;311:629
- Ron Neville,
- Gaylor Hoskins,
- Barbara Smith,
- Roland Clark
- Senior lecturer in general practice Project coordinator Research secretary Westgate Health Centre, Dundee DD2 4AD
- Consultant chest physician King's Cross Hospital, Dundee DD3 8EA
Study supports results of audit by General Practitioners in Asthma Group
EDITOR,--Sebastian L Johnston and colleagues1 highlight what patients with asthma have been saying for years: that asthma gets worse with colds. The General Practitioners in Asthma Group carried out its second national audit of attacks of asthma and looked at 2332 attacks in patients of all ages. Factors that precipitated or preceded an attack were upper respiratory tract infection (1511 attacks), non-compliance with preventive treatment (151), “stress” (113), and allergy (103). This supports the view that upper respiratory tract infection is the dominant precipitating factor in asthma and deserves more attention.