Review

Imitators of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

Pnina Weiss¹ and Kenneth W Rundell²

¹  Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208064, New Haven, CT, 06520-8064, USA

²  Center for Healthy Families, Respiratory Research, Marywood University, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA, 18509-1598, USA

author email corresponding author email

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2009, 5:7doi:10.1186/1710-1492-5-7

Published:	17 November 2009

Abstract

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is described by transient narrowing of the airways after exercise. It occurs in approximately 10% of the general population, while athletes may show a higher prevalence, especially in cold weather and ice rink athletes. Diagnosis of EIB is often made on the basis of self-reported symptoms without objective lung function tests, however, the presence of EIB can not be accurately determined on the basis of symptoms and may be under-, over-, or misdiagnosed. The goal of this review is to describe other clinical entities that mimic asthma or EIB symptoms and can be confused with EIB.