Rhinosinusitis is a common disease in patients of all age groups. Rhinosinusitis arises from a variety of infectious and inflammatory mechanisms. There is ample evidence that rhinosinusitis can directly influence asthma. There is also growing evidence that rhinosinusitis may be associated with asthma as different manifestations of the same disorder. A great deal of future research is required to fully elucidate the different mechanisms whereby rhinosinusitis influences or associates with asthma, but it is clear that rhinosinusitis needs to be considered in patients with severe or refractory asthma.
aAsthma and Allergy Center, DuPage Medical Group, 454 Pennsylvania Ave. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, USA
bDivision of Allergy and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA