Asthma : comorbidities, coexisting conditions, and differential diagnosis

Asthma sufferers number approximately 200 million worldwide, with 15-20 million of those in the United States. Multiple comorbid conditions occur with asthma, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, vocal cord dysfunction syndrome, obesity, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Without identifying and caring for comorbid conditions, asthma cannot be treated appropriately. Comorbidity of allergic diseases emphasizes that we must understand more about why different organs in individuals express allergy and others do not. The increase in multiple allergies occurring in a single patient makes the global burden even more complex, and an integrated approach to diagnosis and new treatment strategies and preventative approaches are required. Asthma: Comorbidities, Coexisting Conditions, and Differential Diagnosis is the first volume to provide a centralized, a comprehensive clinical reference on the diagnosis and management of the comorbid conditions that affect asthma. Because comorbid conditions of asthma have not yet been included in international and national management guidelines, this volume will help fill a gap in current clinical knowledge, aiding physicians in delivering optimal patient care. Written and published in conjunction with the World Allergy Organization (WAO), this book consists of the latest research and reviews of current theory and practice, the most effective advances in the diagnosis and management of asthma and its co-morbidities, and insights into the fundamentals of asthma and its co-morbidities. It presents scientifically-based medicine for each comorbid condition as it relates to asthma.