What Is Reactive Airway Disease?

Common Symptoms

The conditions frequently classified as reactive airway disease tend to share numerous common symptoms. For example, patients generally have a persistent and productive cough (one that produces phlegm). They also experience wheezing normally accompanied by shortness of breath. The conditions classified under the umbrella of reactive airway disease are normally the result of inflammation, and this can cause both swelling and narrowing of the patient's air passages. Breathing restrictions are triggered when the smooth muscles of the lungs become too responsive, leading to constriction of the airways. In addition, patients who have coughing may present with excessive mucus; this clogs the air passages and the alveoli, tiny sacs within the lungs.

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What Causes It

The classification of reactive airway disease serves as a gateway to additional investigations that can determine what causes it. Potential causes of reactive airway disease are varied, and they may include conditions as diverse as cystic fibrosis, congestive heart failure, asthma, bronchiectasis, and granulomatous lung disease. Patients being examined for reactive airway disease might eventually be diagnosed with irritant-induced asthma, a viral infection of the upper respiratory system, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or a pulmonary embolism. To fully investigate the reasons for a patient's symptom and provide an accurate diagnosis, doctors will carry out a range of tests tailored to the patient's medical history. After listening to the patient's heart and lungs, the clinician may recommend for the patient to undergo imaging studies such as chest x-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans to obtain more information about their symptoms. The patient could also need to have lung function tests, including spirometry and diffusion studies; these are especially useful if the healthcare provider suspects a patient might have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients believed to have asthma will need to undergo peak expiratory flow rate and bronchoprovocation studies, and individuals suspected of having allergies may be asked to have skin prick testing and RAST blood tests to identify potential allergens. Antinuclear antibody blood tests are useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune conditions, and endoscopy may be indicated to confirm the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

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