Method and device for the provocation of air passage narrowing and/or the induction of sputum

摘要

A method as described for testing the susceptibility of a person to asthma. The person inhales an effective amount of sodium chloride, mannitol or another substance capable of altering the osmolarity of airway surface liquid in the subject. The substance is in the form of a dispersible dry powder containing an effective proportion of particles of a respirable size. The subject is then measured to detect airway narrowing which is indicative of a propensity for asthma. The same technique of dry powder inhalation can be used to test for the susceptibility of a person to rhinitus, to induce sputum and promote mucociliary clearance.