[Bronchial asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity].

Bronchial hyperreactivity to allergens and non-allergic stimuli is a feature of most patients with asthma as measured by the response to inhalants as pharmacological agents and physical stimuli. In contrast to adults there is an obvious relation of asthmatic episodes to allergen exposure in childhood. However, the development and persistence of bronchial hyperreactivity is well described by interaction of inflammation cells and their mediators. Not only the severity of asthma is related to the severity of bronchial hyperresponsiveness but also the therapeutic strategies.