Sinus Disease, Bacterial Allergy, and Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

The intrinsic form of bronchial asthma remains an enigma. For some it signifies asthma of unknown cause, preferably termed "idiopathic"; to others it is largely a psychosomatic problem, but for many it is still almost wholly equated with "bacterial" or "infective" asthma. At the heart of the last concept lies the question of the relationship of sinus infection to bronchial asthma, which persists as a matter of controversy. This report is offered in the hope of clarifying the issues involved in this problem. Four years ago a clinical research unit, including an allergist and a bacteriologist, was organized in the department of otolaryngology at the Mount Sinai Hospital, to investigate the subject of focal infection ¹ as it concerns the role of nasal and sinus disease. This group met one morning a week for three years. Bronchial asthma constituted the largest group of cases studied, and these comprise the case