TABLE 1.
PATHOGENS DETECTED FROM PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA EXACERBATIONS
| Pathogen | Nucleic Acid of Pathogen | Subtypes | Disease | % Detected in Exacerbations (Refs. 3, 6, 7, 28, 49, 58) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adenovirus | Nonenveloped dsRNA | 1-49 | Pneumonia, acute respiratory distress | <1 |
| Coronovirus | Enveloped (+) ssRNA | 229E, OC43, SARS | Common cold (229E and OC43), severe respiratory distress (SARS) | 26–40 |
| Human Metapneumovirus | Enveloped (−) ssRNA | A-D | Cold-like symptoms (URI) bronchiolitis, pneumonia (LRI) | 7 |
| Influenza | Enveloped (−) ssRNA | A-C | Pneumonia | 2–9 |
| Parainfluenza | Enveloped (−) ssRNA | 1-4 | Croup, common cold, | 3–9 |
| Respiratory syncytial virus | Enveloped (−) ssRNA | A-B | Cold-like symptoms (URI) bronchiolitis, pneumonia (LRI) | 1–12 |
| Rhinovirus | Nonenveloped (+) ssRNA | A-C (100+ serotypes) | Common cold | 34–75 |
| M. pneumoniae Atypical bacteria | DNA/RNA | — | URI, pneumonia, pleural effusions | 18–46 |
| C. pneumoniae Atypical bacteria | DNA/RNA | — | Pneumonia bronchiolitis | 2–12 |
Definition of abbreviations: dsRNA = double-stranded RNA; LRI = lower respiratory infection; ssRNA = single-stranded RNA; URI = upper respiratory infection.