Hello doctor, I am a 44-year-old male with chronic sinusitis. I was exposed to lead and asbestos while serving in the shipyards about 20 years ago. I now draw disability for chronic sinusitis. Recently, my episodes have been turning into bronchitis and even pneumonia more and more frequently. Just this week, I was diagnosed with asthma. My question is can chronic sinusitis lead to asthma?
Hi. I can understand your concern. Yes, chronic sinusitis can cause asthma. Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinusitis can cause asthma especially adult onset asthma. But better to first get done spirometry study with bronchodilator reversibility. If spirometry is showing an obstructive defect with good bronchodilator reversibility, then asthma is likely. But, if spirometry is showing obstructive defect without bronchodilator reversibility then bronchitis is more likely. Please let me know that do you smoke? Do you have allergies? Please reply me with answers to these questions so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further.