Tracheostomy has been practised for centuries for the relief of respiratory tract obstruction. Its use has increased very markedly since the introduction of intermittent positive pressure respiration Its value has since been proved for other conditions associated with respiratory paralysis, such as tetanus (Cole, 1959; Smythe and Bull, 1961) and myasthenia gravis. It is also used in respiratory...

In bronchial asthma, respiratory virus infection involves several issues: 1) respiratory virus infection in infancy is a risk factor for, and may predispose to, the development of asthma later in life; 2) respiratory virus infection is associated with the acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma; and, 3) glucocorticosteroids (GC) are not adequate for controlling asthma-related symptoms upon respi...

Study objective: To define the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and long-term complications of respiratory viral infections in adult lung transplant recipients. Design: Retrospective review of the records of 122 adult lung transplant recipients over a 5-year period at one institution. Results: Ten episodes of infection with respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, influenza, or adenovi...

Upper respiratory tract infection (URI) is a general term for a heterogeneous group of illnesses caused by numerous etiologic agents that affect the mucosal lining of the upper respiratory tract, including the middle-ear cavity and paranasal sinuses. URIs are primarily caused by viruses, rhinoviruses being the most common etiological agents. Respiratory viruses transmit easily via direct contac...

Background: It is well known that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is associated with subsequent wheezing episodes, but the precise natural course of wheezing following RSV LRTI is not known. This study aimed to determine the continuous development of wheezing following RSV LRTI in children up to the age of 3 years. Methods: A prospective cohort study w...