Previous investigations into the etiology of bronchial asthma were undertaken by intradermal testing with bacterial suspensions and the results were evaluated in regard of a careful case history. In 70 % of 2,100 cases the tests gave positive reactions. In another group of 397 non-allergic patients suffering from some respiratory disease the skin tests were positive in 12 %. We subtracted this non-specific 12 % from the 70 % as found above, and concluded that in 58 % of our asthmatics some infection had elicited the first symptoms.However, several authors (Brinkman & Burger, Lowell & Schiller) have criticised the value of skin tests since the shock organ in asthma is the bronchial tree which would be expected to show greater sensitivity than the skin. Direct bronchial testing has been introduced in many studies concerning the identification of the offending antigen in bronchial asthma (Herxheimer, Feinberg and associates).In our present studies we have compared the results of various skin testing methods with direct bronchial testing. Furthermore we wanted to check our former statement concerning the prevalence of infections in the etiology of bronchial asthma in our country.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract