- With Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist
James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
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James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
James Li, M.D.
"People with allergy or asthma can lead full and healthy lives." — Dr. James Li
Dr. James Li is chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. He hopes his expertise and the information on the site educates health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses.
"There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," says Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. He's a past director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He's a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with its Special Recognition Award.
Symptoms (3)
- Vocal cord dysfunction: Is it a type of asthma?
- Trouble breathing: Could it be asthma?
- Asthma without wheezing: Is this possible?
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Reactive airway disease: Is it asthma?
Causes (1)
- Asthma and acid reflux: Are they linked?
Treatments and drugs (2)
- LABAs for asthma — Should I stop taking them?
- Albuterol side effects: What's normal?
Lifestyle and home remedies (3)
- Asthma: Why are symptoms worse during my period?
- Asthma diet: Does what you eat make a difference?
- Ozone air purifiers: Can they improve asthma symptoms?
Prevention (1)
- Hygiene hypothesis: Early germ exposure prevents asthma?
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Question
Reactive airway disease: Is it asthma?
My 2-year-old son was diagnosed with reactive airway disease. Is this just a fancy term for asthma?
Answer
from James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Sometimes the terms "reactive airway disease" and "asthma" are used interchangeably. However, they're not necessarily the same thing.
Reactive airway disease is a general term that doesn't indicate a specific diagnosis. It may be used to describe a history of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath of unknown cause. These signs and symptoms may or may not be caused by asthma. Reactive airway disease isn't really a specific diagnosis. In fact, it's thought that some children are mistakenly given a diagnosis of reactive airway disease when they actually have asthma.
Describing a condition as reactive airway disease in part reflects the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of asthma in certain situations — such as during early childhood. Although it's possible for infants and toddlers to have asthma, tests to diagnose asthma generally aren't accurate before age 6.
Next questionAsthma and acid reflux: Are they linked?
- Expert panel report 3: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. 2007. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf. Accessed Aug. 5, 2010.
- Plitzka L (expert opinion). American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Milwaukee, Wis. Aug. 2, 2010.
- Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 31st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2007.
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