Rhinosinusitis and Reactive Upper Airways Dysfunction Syndrome

Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Reactive Upper Airways Dysfunction Syndrome 

Asthma and Reactive (Lower) Airways Dysfunction Syndrome 

Occupational reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) is defined as persistent respiratory symptoms and nonspecific airway hyperreactivity in patients with a history of acute exposure to an inhaled agent (gas or aerosol) and no prior history of allergies, smoking, or asthma (25). The definition of RADS can usefully be extended in the WTC context (Table 1) to include those with repeated irritant exposure who have developed irritant-induced asthma. RADS can progress to irreversible lower airways obstructive disease. 

In a sample of FDNY rescue workers whose bronchial hyperreactivity was measured six months after 9/11/01, those who arrived at the WTC site on 9/11 were 7.8 times more likely to experience bronchial hyperreactivity than those firefighters who arrived to the site at a later date and/or had lower exposure 

Diagnosis Treatment Algorithm - Upper Airway Predominance 

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III. Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Reactive Upper Airways Dysfunction Syndrome... 

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