What Is Reactive Airway Disease?

Other Included Conditions

In addition to asthma, many other conditions may be found within the classification of reactive airway disease. For example, healthcare providers might use the term to describe instances of suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prior to carrying out tests that specifically diagnose this disease. At other times, it could be employed to describe reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a condition characterized by a single episode of coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath after exposure to excessive gas fumes and vapors. Reactive airway disease can technically include any condition that produces a bronchial spasm, and there is controversy among specialists as to which diseases are encompassed by the term. For example, some specialists would not include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within the umbrella of reactive airway disease. In fact, the confusion this catchall term has caused is so extensive that some clinicians have said the term lacks any clinical meaning. Ultimately, it is largely up to each doctor to decide which respiratory conditions they wish to describe by using 'reactive airway disease.'

Learn about the symptoms of reactive airway disease next.