[Bronchial hyperreactivity. II. Diagnostic methods].

Bronchial hyperreactivity is studied for the evaluation of airways' response to stimuli that provoke bronchoconstriction in hyperreactive subjects. Exercise is often used, especially in children. This method in simple, sufficiently tolerated and reproducible. The inhalation of ultrasonically-nebulized distilled water is a simple, reproducible and rapid to perform in the majority of adult patients test; in childhood it is poorly inquired. Pharmacological tests (with histamine or methacholine) have a greater sensitivity and reproducibility. Aspecific bronchoprovocation with methacholine is a diagnostic method that allows the diagnosis of bronchial hyperreactivity in asymptomatic subjects with asthma, recurrent cough and recurrent bronchopneumonia.