Fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms that are present in outdoor and indoor environments. Previous research has found relationships between environmental fungal exposures and human health effects. We reviewed recent articles focused on fungal exposure and dampness as risk factors for respiratory disease development, symptoms and hypersensitivity. In particular, we reviewed the evidence suggesting that early exposure to dampness or fungi is associated with development of asthma and increased asthma morbidity. While outdoor exposure to high concentrations of spores can cause health effects such as asthma attacks in association with thunderstorms, most people appear to be relatively unaffected unless they are sensitized to specific genera. Indoor exposure and dampness, on the other hand, appears to be associated with increased risk of developing asthma in young children and asthma morbidity in individuals who have asthma. These are important issues because they provide a rationale for interventions that might be considered for homes and buildings in which there is increased fungal exposure. In addition to rhinitis and asthma, fungus exposure is associated with a number of other illnesses including allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic fungal sinusitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Additional research is necessary to establish causality and evaluate interventions for fungal and dampness-related health effects.

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Background: The number of patients affected by allergies is increasing worldwide. The resulting allergic diseases are leading to significant costs for health care and social systems. Integrated care pathways are needed to enable comprehensive care within the national health systems. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) initiative develops internationally applicable guidelines for allergic respiratory diseases. Methods: ARIA serves to improve the care of patients with allergies and chronic respiratory diseases. In collaboration with other international initiatives, national associations and patient organizations in the field of allergies and respiratory diseases, real-life integrated care pathways have been developed for a digitally assisted, integrative, individualized treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) with comorbid asthma. In the present work, these integrated care pathways have been adapted to the German situation and health system. Results: The present ICP (integrated care pathway) guideline covers key areas of the care of AR patients with and without asthma. It includes the views of patients and other healthcare providers. Discussion: A comprehensive ICP guideline can reflect real-life care better than traditional guideline models.

Background The number of patients affected by allergies is increasing worldwide. The resulting allergic diseases are leading to significant costs for health care and social systems. Integrated care pathways are needed to enable comprehensive care within the national health systems. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) initiative develops internationally applicable guidelines for allergic respiratory diseases. Methods ARIA serves to improve the care of patients with allergies and chronic respiratory diseases. In collaboration with other international initiatives, national associations and patient organizations in the field of allergies and respiratory diseases, real-life integrated care pathways have been developed for a digitally assisted, integrative, individualized treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) with comorbid asthma. In the present work, these integrated care pathways have been adapted to the German situation and health system. Results The present ICP (integrated care pathways) guideline covers key areas of the care of AR patients with and without asthma. It includes the views of patients and other healthcare providers. Discussion A comprehensive ICP guideline can reflect real-life care better than traditional guideline models.

Este artículo debe citarse como: Larenas-Linnemann D, Salas-Hernández J, Vázquez-García JC, Ortiz-Aldana I, Fernández-Vega M, Del Río-Navarro BE, et al. Guía Mexicana del Asma 2017. Rev Alerg Mex. 2017;64 Supl 1:s11-s128. AbstractBackground: The need for a national guideline, with a broad basis among specialists and primary care physicians was felt in Mexico, to try unifying asthma management. As several high-quality asthma guidelines exist worldwide, it was decided to select the best three for transculturation. Methods: Following the internationally recommended methodology for guideline transculturation, ADAPTE, a literature search for asthma guidelines, published 1-1-2007 through 31-12-2015 was conducted. AGREE-II evaluations yielded 3/40 most suitable for transculturation. Their compound evidence was fused with local reality, patient preference, cost and safety considerations to draft the guideline document. Subsequently, this was adjusted by physicians from 12 national medical societies in several rounds of a Delphi process and 3 face-to-face meetings to reach the final version. Results: Evidence was fused from British Thoracic Society Asthma Guideline 2014, Global Initiative on Asthma 2015, and Guía Española del Manejo del Asma 2015 (2016 updates included). After 3 Delphi-rounds we developed an evidence-based document taking into account patient characteristics, including age, treatment costs and safety and best locally available medication. Conclusion: In cooperation pulmonologists, allergists, ENT physicians, paediatricians and GPs were able to develop an evidence-based document for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of asthma and its exacerbations in Mexico.Keywords: Clinical practice guideline; Asthma; Asthmatic exacerbation; Bronchodilator; Inhaled corticosteroid; Spirometry; Immunotherapy. IntroducciónLa presentación de este documento muestra la importancia del asma en México por su alta prevalencia, pero también por su subdiagnóstico y tratamiento deficiente, que propician un mal control de los pacientes con asma, crisis más frecuentes y sintomatología activa. En consecuencia, el asma tiene un impacto socioeconómico considerable para el paciente y la sociedad en su conjunto, al igual que afecta la calidad de vida del paciente y su familia. En México, el paciente con asma puede recibir atención médica en los ámbitos pú-blico o privado, en los diferentes niveles de salud y por múltiples especialidades. Todas estas particularidades de la situación nacional indican la necesidad de un documento guía actualizado, con base amplia en múltiples gremios médicos, tanto de primer nivel de atención como de especialidad.El objetivo de la GUIMA 2017 es facilitar la reducción de la morbimortalidad por asma en México, no solo al mejorar el conocimiento acerca de esta patología, sino también al ayudar a la parte administrativa del Sector Salud a gestionar la selección y adquisición más precisa de los medicamentos necesarios para su tratamiento a nivel de la salud pública. Para tal fin se ofrecen lineamientos par...