Viral infections and asthma (AAH)

According to the Australian Asthma Handbook:
– Viral respiratory infections are the most common trigger for asthma flare-ups, including serious acute asthma requiring hospital admission
– Reliever medicines may not be as effective during colds
– Children with both allergy and asthma have more severe and long-lasting virus-induced symptoms (both cold symptoms and asthma symptoms) than Children with asthma but no allergy
– people with asthma and allergies are at higher risk of asthma hospitalisation than those without allergies
– In practice, it is not feasible to avoid colds or influenza. Colds and influenza are spread by multiple routes, including airborne transmission of small and large droplets generated by talking and coughing, and transfer by fingers from contaminated items to the nose or eyes.
– People with asthma should avoid crowded and enclosed spaces, particularly where there are people with colds.