Immunological aspects of allergy and anaphylaxis part 42

ALLERGIC ASTHMA

The lung provides the fundamental function of gas exchange. As the terminal level of the respiratory tract after the nasal cavity and pharinx, it is constantly exposed to airborne  particulate matter. Allergic asthma is the manifestation of a pulmonary immune response to various inhaled substances.
Clinically, the cardinal symptoms include:

• generalized but reversible airway obstruction
• wheeze
• dyspnea
• cough

Symptoms can range from mild to life threathening. Typical allergens include house dust mite, pollen, cockroach epithelium, animal dander and fungi.