ASTHMA AGREVATING FACTORS

Dr. Rokan M. Fadhil*

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the microbiological and immunological aspect of the two main asthma aggravating factors namely respiratory tract infection (bacteria and fungi) and exposure to allergen in baquba city.One hundred-thirty five patients, with asthma exacerbation were selected from patients attending the respiratory consultant unite through out aperiod extended for 8months. The age of patients ranged from (5-65) years with mean (28.85) years.Only one hundred patients were subjected to full assessment Bacteria were isolated from 13 (13%) patients, Haemophilus influenzae was the most common bacterial pathogen, which was isolated from 5(35.7%) patients, followed by Streptococcus pneumonia, which was isolated from 4 (28.7%) patients, Moraxella catarrhalis, which was isolated from 2 (14.3%) patients, Pseudomonas arogenosa, which was isolated from 2 (14.3%) patients, and Niesseria species, which was isolated from 1 (7%) patients and there was no significance correlation between growth (bacterial or fungal) and severity of asthma (P. >0.05).Fungi isolated from 9 patients (9%), and the most common fungal pathogens isolate were Candida albicans, which was isolated from 5 (55.6%) patients, followed by Pencillium species, which was isolated from 2 (22.2%) patients, Aspergillus niger, which was isolated from 1 (11.1%) patient, and Aspergillus fumigatus which was isolated from 1 (11.1%) patient and there was significant correlation (P<0.05) between steroid administration and fungal infections.

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