الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Asthma is one of the chronic diseases that is increasing in prevalence despite better understanding of its pathogenesis and improved treatment. Both morbidity and mortality of asthma are increasing and most of asthma mortality is due to acute exacerbation. Infection is one of the most important causes of acute exacerbation of asthma, and may play an important role in its chronicity. Searching for preventable and curable forms of these infections as Chlamydia Pneumoniae, which is recently discovered , in asthmatics, and evaluation of their role in exacerbation of asthma may probably help improving the control of this disease and decreasing its prevalence morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at determining the role of acute Chlamydia Pneumoniea infection in exacerbation of asthma symptoms in adult asthmatics. This study was a case control prospective study, conducted on 64 adult asthma patients ? 16 years old in the period between November 1999 and November 2000, in the emergency department and outpatient clinic of Suez Canal University Hospital. The 64 patients were divided into 2 groups of equal number. The first group (case group) was consisting of 32 patients represented equally between females and males, with mean age 36.88 years (SD+/-12.99), in acute exacerbation of asthma symptoms in form of increased dyspnea, cough and wheezing for the last one week. The exacerbation was also confirmed by reversible decrease in FEV1 Test result of at least 35% from best or predicted. The second group (control group) was consisting of 32 adults with mean age 31.5 years (SD+/-12.38), asthmatics not in acute exacerbation at least for 4 weeks before joining the study. With reversible decrease in FEV1 Test of least 20% of best or predicted. Both groups were subjected to the following: 1- Detailed clinical history and examination. 2- Chest radiography. 3- Pulmonary function test (FEV1 and FVC).