[The pathogens of atypical respiratory infections and asthma].

The pathogens of atypical respiratory infections form a big heterogeneous group of different microorganisms. The classical ones belong to bacterial species of Mycoplasma pneumonaie, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila. This category comprises also some viruses and rickettsia. In many cases they are responsible for the asthma course exacerbation. Their contribution in the asthma development is suspected, too. Potential protecting effect against atopy and asthma is a subject of speculations. The authors discuss all three aspects, reporting own observations. A precise determination of the role of atypical infection in asthma remains to be determined.