The association of viruses with acute asthma.

The association of virus infection with an acute attack of asthma in 204 children admitted to hospital over a one year period was studied. Two comparative groups were assessed in parallel. Nineteen percent of acute asthma attacks were associated with viral infection. The range of the viral agents identified was comparable to that of a group of nonasthmatic children with an acute respiratory infection. These findings were, however, significantly different from an asthmatic group without acute illness.