[Asthma and its differential diagnoses]. / A asma e os seus diagnósticos diferenciais.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) occurs in immunocompetent patients and belongs to the Aspergillus induced hypersensitivity disorders. It is estimated that ABPA complicates approximately 7-14% of cases of chronic steroid-dependent asthma and the same amount of cases of cystic fibrosis. A diagnosis of ABPA is based on a combination of clinical, biological and radiology criteria. There is a broad spectrum of disease severity. Early detection and aggressively management will impede progressive lung damage to a severe and debilitating disease requiring lung transplantation. The authors describe the case of a 41 year-old female with a history of allergic asthma from childhood. It was a severe, difficult to control asthma treated with systemic corticosteroids for long periods.

[Allergic rhinitis and related diseases]. / Rinite alérgica e doenças associadas.

Allergic disease prevalence including allergic rhinitis has increased. It's relationship with other allergic diseases including asthma makes imperative it's diagnosis as well as co- -morbidity identification and associated complications. The most recent classification of the disease highlights the duration of symptoms and it's interference in the quality of life. The therapeutic strategy presented is based on eviction measures, pharmacological treatment, immunotherapy and, in selected cases, surgery. Pharmacological treatment should be done by "steps" according to the severity of the disease.